PRINCIPAL MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY SEPARATE ACCOUNT B
485BPOS, 1999-04-21
Previous: PRINCIPAL MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY SEPARATE ACCOUNT B, 485BPOS, 1999-04-21
Next: BANKERS TRUST CORP, SC 13G/A, 1999-04-21



                                                       Registration No. 33-44565


                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM N-4


             REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                     Pre-Effective Amendment No.  ______ _____

                     Post-Effective Amendment No. __13__ __X__

                                     and/or


         REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940

                             Amendment No. _____ _____

                        (Check appropriate box or boxes)

               Principal Life Insurance Company Separate Account B
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           (Exact Name of Registrant)

                        Principal Life Insurance Company
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               (Name of Depositor)

              The Principal Financial Group, Des Moines, Iowa          50392
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            (Address of Depositor's Principal Executive Offices)     (Zip Code)

Depositor's Telephone Number, including Area Code   (515) 248-3842

      M. D. Roughton, The Principal Financial Group Des Moines, Iowa 50392
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     (Name and Address of Agent for Service)


It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box)

        ___   immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 485

        _X_   on May 1, 1999, pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 485

        ___   60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) of Rule 485

        ___   on  (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) of Rule 485

        ___   75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485

        ___   on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485

              If appropriate, check the following box:

        ___   This post-effective  amendment designates a new effective date for
              a previously filed post- effective amendment.
<PAGE>
           PRINCIPAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY SEPARATE ACCOUNT B
              PERSONAL VARIABLE - GROUP VARIABLE ANNUITY CONTRACTS

                       Registration Statement on Form N-4
                              Cross Reference Sheet

Form N-4 Item                         Caption in Prospectus
Part A
 1. Cover Page                Principal Life Insurance Company
                                Separate Account B Personal Variable - A Group
                                Variable Annuity Contract For Employer
                                Sponsored Qualified and Non-Qualified
                                Retirement Plans

 2. Definitions               Glossary of Special Terms

 3. Synopsis                  Expense Table and Example, Summary

 4. Condensed Financial       Condensed Financial Information,
    Information                 Independent Auditors

 5. General Description       Summary, Description of
    of Registrant               Principal Life Insurance
                                Company, Principal Life
                                Insurance Company Separate Account B,
                                Voting Rights

 6. Deductions                Expense Table and Example, Summary, Deductions
                                Under the Contract, Contingent Deferred Sales
                                Charge, Contract Administration Expense/
                                Recordkeeping Charge, Mortality and Expense
                                Risks Charge, Distribution of the Contract,
                                Other Expenses, Application Fee and Transfer
                                Fee, Documentation Expense, Special Services

 7. General Description of    Summary, The Contract, Contract Values
    Variable Annuity Contract   and Accounting Before Annuity Commencement
                                Date, Income Benefits, Payment on Death of
                                Plan Participant, Withdrawals and Transfers,
                                Other Contractual Provisions, Contractholders'
                                Inquiries

 8. Annuity Period            Income Benefits

 9. Death Benefit             Payment on Death of Plan Participant,
                                Federal Tax Status

10. Purchases and Contract    Summary, The Contract, Contract Values and
    Value                       Accounting Before Annuity Commencement
                                Date, Other Contractual Provisions, 
                                Distribution of the Contract

11. Redemptions               Summary, Income Benefits,
                                Withdrawals and Transfers

12. Taxes                     Summary, Principal Life Insurance Company
                                Separate Account B, Income Benefits,
                                Federal Tax Status

13. Legal Proceedings         Legal Proceedings

14. Table of Contents of      Table of Contents of the Statement
    the Statement of            of Additional Information  
    Additional Information      


Part B                       Statement of Additional Information Caption**

15. Cover Page               Principal Life Insurance Company
                               Separate Account B Personal Variable - A Group
                               Variable Annuity Contract for Employer
                               Sponsored Qualified and Non-Qualified
                               Retirement Plans Issued by Principal Life
                               Insurance Company

16. Table of Contents        Table of Contents

17. General Information      None
    and History

18. Services                 Independent Auditors**

19. Purchase of Securities   Summary**, Deductions Under
    Being Offered              the Contracts**, Withdrawals and Transfers**,
                               Distribution of the Contract**

20. Underwriters             Summary**, Distribution of the Contract**,
                               Underwriting Commissions

21. Calculation of           Calculation of Yield and Total Return
    Performance Data

22. Annuity Payments         Income Benefits**

23. Financial Statements     Financial Statements

** Prospectus caption given where appropriate.
<PAGE>


   
                        PRINCIPAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
    

                               SEPARATE ACCOUNT B

                                PERSONAL VARIABLE

                       (A Group Variable Annuity Contract

                        For Employer Sponsored Qualified

                       And Non-Qualified Retirement Plans)


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

                          Prospectus dated May 1, 1999

     This  Prospectus  concisely  sets forth  information  about  Principal Life
Insurance  Company  Separate  Account B and Personal  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, 1999,  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 31 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 company of
                          the Principal Financial Group
                              Des Moines, IA 50392
                            Telephone: 1-800-633-1373
    


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  Variable  Contracts  Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") which should be kept
for future reference.

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

   
                                                                            Page
       Glossary of Special Terms ............................................. 4
       Expense Table and Example.............................................. 6
       Summary................................................................ 7
       Condensed Financial Information ....................................... 9
       Description of Principal Life Insurance Company .......................10
       Principal Life Insurance Company Separate Account B ...................10
       Deductions under the Contract .........................................12
           Contingent Deferred Sales Charge...................................12
           Contract Administration Expense/Recordkeeping Charge ..............13
           Mortality and Expense Risks Charge ................................14
       Other Expenses ........................................................14
           Application Fee and Transfer Fee...................................14
           Documentation Expense..............................................15
           Location Fee  .....................................................15
           Outside Asset Recordkeeping Charge.................................15
           Special Services...................................................15
       Surplus Distribution at Sole Discretion of the Company ................15
       The Contract  .........................................................15
           Contract Values and Accounting Before Annuity Commencement Date ...16
                Investment Accounts ..........................................16
                Unit Value ...................................................16
                Net Investment Factor ........................................16
                Hypothetical Example of Calculation of Unit Value for All
                    Divisions Except the Money Market Division................16
                Hypothetical Example of Calculation of Unit Value for
                     the Money Market Division................................17
           Income Benefits ...................................................17
                Variable Annuity Payments.....................................17
                    Selecting a Variable Annuity .............................17
                    Forms of Variable Annuities ..............................18
                    Basis of Annuity Conversion Rates ........................19
                    Determining the Amount of the First Variable 
                         Annuity Payment......................................19
                    Determining the Amount of the Second and Subsequent
                         Monthly Variable Annuity Payments ...................19
                    Hypothetical Example of Calculation of Variable Annuity 
                         Payments ............................................20
                Flexible Income Option........................................20
           Payment on Death of Plan Participant...............................21
                Prior to Annuity Purchase Date ...............................21
                Subsequent to Annuity Purchase Date ..........................21
                                                                            Page
           Withdrawals and Transfers .........................................22
                Cash Withdrawals .............................................22
                Transfers Between Divisions ..................................22
                Transfers to the Contract ....................................22
                Transfers to Companion Contract ..............................23
                Special Situation Involving Alternate Funding Agents .........23
                Postponement of Cash Withdrawal or Transfer ..................23
                Loans ........................................................23
           Other Contractual Provisions ......................................23
                Contribution Limits ..........................................23
                Assignment ...................................................23
                Cessation of Contributions ...................................24
                Substitution of Securities....................................24
                Changes in the Contract ......................................24
       Statement of Values....................................................24
       Services Available by Telephone........................................25
       Distribution of the Contract...........................................25
       Performance Calculation................................................25
       Voting Rights  ........................................................26
       Federal Tax Status.....................................................27
           Taxes Payable by Owners of Benefits and Annuitants.................27
                Tax-Deferred Annuity Plans....................................27
                Public Employee Deferred Compensation Plans...................28
                401(a) Plans..................................................28
                Creditor-Exempt Non-Qualified Plans...........................29
                General Creditor Non-Qualified Plans..........................30
           Fund Diversification...............................................30
       State Regulation  .....................................................30
       Legal Opinions    .....................................................30
       Legal Proceedings .....................................................31
       Registration Statement.................................................31
       Independent Auditors...................................................31
       Year 2000 Readiness Disclosure.......................................  31
       Contractholders' Inquiries.............................................32
       Table of Contents of the Statement of Additional Information...........32
    

     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

Account -- Series or  portfolio  of a Mutual  Fund in which a  Separate  Account
Division invests.

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 that 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  Variable
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.

Contingent  Deferred  Sales  Charge -- The charge  deducted  from  certain  cash
withdrawals  from an  Investment  Account  before  the  Annuity  Purchase  Date,
payments made because of a Termination  of Employment or amounts  transferred to
an Alternate Funding Agent.

Contract  Administration/Recordkeeping  Charge  -- A  charge  deducted  or  paid
separately by the Contractholder on a quarterly basis each Deposit Year prior to
the Annuity Commencement Date or on a complete redemption of Investment Accounts
which correlate to a Plan  Participant  from the Aggregate  Investment  Accounts
that correlate to each Plan Participant.

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 an
Account of a 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 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 or 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  alternative  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  Divisions,  each of
which invest in a  corresponding  Account of the  Principal  Variable  Contracts
Fund, Inc.

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,  this 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 an  Account  is
determined.

Valuation  Period -- The period of time  between  when the net asset value of an
Account is determined on one Valuation Date and when 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  Value  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 Accounts in which the Separate Account invests as
of the fiscal year ended  December  31,  1998.  The example  below 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(1)

Transaction Expenses
   Sales Load Imposed on Purchases
   (as a percentage of purchase payments)            None

   Deferred Sales Load(2)
   (as a percentage of amount surrendered)              
                                 For Withdrawals Occurring During
                                 Plan Participant's Year of Coverage

                     1      2       3      4       5      6       7   Thereafter
                   -------------------------------------------------------------
                   5.00%  4.25%   3.50%  2.75%   2.00%  1.25%   0.50%     0%

   Surrender Fees                None

   Exchange Fee                  None

Annual Contract Fee (3)
     Contract Administration Expense/   $34 per Plan  Participant + (.35% of the
     Recordkeeping  Charge(2)           Balance of the Investment Accounts and 
                                        Outside Assets which correlate to the 
                                        Plan Participant subject to a minimum 
                                        annual charge of $750).(4) (5)
Separate Account Annual Expenses
     (as a percentage of average account value)
     Mortality and Expense Risk Charge(2)         .64%

   
Annual Expenses of Accounts
 (as a percentage of average net assets of the following accounts)
                                   Management        Other       Total Accounts
                                      Fees         Expenses      Annual Expenses
                                   ----------      --------      ---------------
   Balanced Account                   .57%            .02%            .59%
   Bond Account                       .49             .02             .51
   Capital Value Account              .43             .01             .44
   Government Securities Account      .49             .01             .50
   Growth Account                     .47             .01             .48
   International Account              .73             .04             .77
   MidCap Account                     .61             .01             .62
   Money Market Account               .50             .02             .52
    

 (1) In  addition  to  the  expenses   described  in  the  Expense  Table,   the
     Contractholder  must pay a $925  application fee. The  Contractholder  must
     also pay a  documentation  expense (if  applicable)  and,  if services  are
     provided to multiple  employee  group  locations,  a location  fee. None of
     these fees are deductible from Investment Accounts. (See "Other Expenses.")

 (2) The   Contingent   Deferred   Sales   Charge,    Contract    Administration
     Expense/Recordkeeping  Charge and mortality and expense risks charge may be
     changed on 60-days notice subject to certain limitations.

 (3) Annual  contract fees are charged on a quarterly basis (based on balance of
     Investment Accounts at the end of each quarter) or assessed upon a complete
     redemption  of  all  Investment   Accounts   which   correlate  to  a  Plan
     Participant.  The amount of the quarterly  charge  deducted from Investment
     Accounts which  correlate to a Plan  Participant  will not exceed 1% of the
     aggregate  value of such  accounts as of the date the charges are deducted.
     The 1%  limitation  on the  Contract  Administration  Expense/Recordkeeping
     Charge  does  not  apply  if the  annual  contract  fees  are  paid  by the
     Contractholder. See "Deductions Under the Contract."

 (4) If benefit plan reports are mailed to the Plan  Participants' home address,
     the $34 charge will be  increased to $37. If more than two 401(k) or 401(m)
     non-discrimination  tests are provided by the Company in any Deposit  Year,
     the $34 ($37) per Plan Participant Contract  Administration  Expense may be
     increased  by 3% for each  additional  test.  If benefit  plan  reports are
     mailed monthly instead of quarterly, the $34 ($37) charge will be increased
     by 24%. See "Deductions Under the Contract."

 (5) An  additional  $25 annual  charge  will be made for  aggregate  Investment
     Account Values which correlate to the Plan Participant for which a Flexible
     Income Option has been selected. (See "Deductions Under the Contract.")
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     EXAMPLE
                        Separate Account
                            Division      1 Year   3 Years    5 Years   10 Years
                            --------      ------   -------    -------   --------
If the Investments Accounts
which correlate to a Plan 
Participant are surrendered
at the end of the applicable
time period:

   
   The Owner of Benefits    Balanced       $71       $97       $125       $220
   would pay the following  Bond           $70       $95       $121       $212
   expenses on a $1,000     Capital Value  $69       $93       $117       $203
   investment, assuming a   Government                                        
   5% annual return on       Securities    $70       $95       $120       $211
   assets:                  Growth         $70       $94       $119       $207
                            International  $72      $103       $134       $239
                            MidCap         $71       $98       $126       $223
                            Money Market   $70       $95       $121       $213
    

If the Investment Accounts
which correlate to a Plan
Participant are annuitized
at the end of the applicable
time period or rate not 
surrendered:

   
   The Owner of Benefits    Balanced       $19       $59       $102       $220
   would pay the            Bond           $18       $57        $97       $212
   following expenses on    Capital Value  $17       $54        $93       $203
   a $1,000 investment,     Government 
                             Securities    $18       $56        $97       $211
   assuming a 5% annual     Growth         $18       $55        $95       $207
   return on assets:        International  $21       $65       $111       $239
                            MidCap         $19       $60       $103       $223
                            Money Market   $18       $57        $98       $213
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    

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  described 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. As of January 1, 1998, the Contract is
no longer offered.

     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.  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 government 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 were sold primarily by persons who are insurance  agents of or
brokers for Principal 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
Separate  Account  B as  directed  by the  Owner  of  Benefits.  Currently,  the
Divisions  available  under the Contract are:  Balanced,  Bond,  Capital  Value,
Government  Securities,  Growth,  International,  MidCap and Money  Market.  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  Value  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  Accounts  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
Accounts  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
Accounts.

     Each of the  Divisions  invests  only in shares of an Account of  Principal
Variable Contracts Fund, Inc. as indicated in the table below.

              Division                                    Account
              --------                                    -------
      Balanced Division                            Balanced Account
      Bond Division                                Bond Account
      Capital Value Division                       Capital Value Account
      Government Securities Division               Government Securities Account
      Growth Division                              Growth Account
      International Division                       International Account
      MidCap Division                              MidCap Account
      Money Market Division                        Money Market Account

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 Account  underlying the Capital Value 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.

CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

     Financial   statements   are  included  in  the   Statement  of  Additional
Information.  Following  are  Unit  Values  for the  Personal  Variable  Annuity
Contract for the periods ended December 31.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                             Accumulation Unit Value           Number of Accumulation Units
                                            Beginning         End              Outstanding at End of Period
                                            of Period      of Period                  (in thousands)
                                            ---------      ---------           ----------------------------
     Balanced Division
       Year Ended December 31
<S>      <C>                                 <C>             <C>                          <C>  
   
         1998                                $1.595          $1.771                       2,321
         1997                                 1.359           1.594                       1,775
         1996                                 1.208           1.359                       1,015
         1995                                  .975           1.208                         327
       Period Ended December 31, 1994 (1)     1.000            .975                         101
     Bond Division
       Year Ended December 31
         1998                                 1.382           1.471                         766
         1997                                 1.251           1.374                         487
         1996                                 1.229           1.251                         274
         1995                                 1.012           1.229                         124
       Period Ended December 31, 1994 (1)     1.000           1.012                           0
     Capital Value Division
       Year Ended December 31
         1998                                 2.353           2.651                       3,764
         1997                                 1.840           2.349                       3,443
         1996                                 1.498           1.840                       2,915
         1995                                 1.142           1.498                       2,336
         1994                                 1.143           1.142                       1,638
         1993                                 1.066           1.143                         504
     Government Securities Division
       Year Ended December 31
         1998                                 1.419           1.522                       1,954
         1997                                 1.289           1.414                       1,816
         1996                                 1.255           1.289                       1,936
         1995                                 1.060           1.255                       1,890
         1994                                 1.116           1.060                       1,575
         1993                                 1.020           1.116                         809
         1992 (2)                             1.000           1.020                          15
      Growth Division
       Year Ended December 31
         1998                                 1.766           2.125                       2,232
         1997                                 1.397           1.763                       1,575
         1996                                 1.249           1.397                         814
         1995                                 1.000           1.249                         278
       Period Ended December 31, 1994 (1)     1.000           1.000                           5
         1992 (2)                             1.000           1.066                          14
     International Division
       Year Ended December 31
         1998                                 1.517           1.647                       1,511
         1997                                 1.352           1.507                       1,014
         1996                                 1.087           1.352                         487
         1995                                  .957           1.087                         160
       Period Ended December 31, 1994 (1)     1.000            .957                          21
     MidCap Division
       Year Ended December 31
         1998                                 1.864           1.922                       1,918
         1997                                 1.530           1.866                       1,478
         1996                                 1.270           1.530                         830
         1995                                  .990           1.270                         288
       Period Ended December 31, 1994 (1)     1.000            .990                          14
     Money Market Division
       Year Ended December 31
         1998                                 1.223           1.278                       1,330
         1997                                 1.169           1.222                       1,056
         1996                                 1.119           1.169                         841
         1995                                 1.066           1.119                       1,143
         1994                                 1.033           1.066                         742
         1993                                 1.011           1.033                         183
         1992 (2)                             1.000           1.011                          29


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

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

     Principal Life Insurance  Company is a 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. The name change to Principal Life Insurance Company and  reorganization
into a mutual  holding  company  structure  took place in 1998. The Company is a
company of the Principal  Financial Group, a diversified family of insurance and
financial services corporations.

     Principal  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 $70.1 billion in assets under  management  and
serves more than 10.1 million individuals and their families.

PRINCIPAL 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  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.

     Separate  Account B is divided into Divisions each of which invests only in
shares of an Account of Principal  Variable Contracts Fund, Inc. as indicated in
the table below.

              Division                                    Account
      ----------------                             --------------
      Balanced Division                            Balanced Account
      Bond Division                                Bond Account
      Capital Value Division                       Capital Value Account
      Government Securities Division               Government Securities Account
      Growth Division                              Growth Account
      International Division                       International Account
      MidCap Division                              MidCap Account
      Money Market Division                        Money Market Account

   
      The Fund is a diversified,  open-end management  investment  company.  The
investment  Manager  for  the  Fund is  Principal  Management  Corporation  (the
"Manager").  The  Accounts  are  also  used  to  fund  variable  life  insurance
contracts.  See "Eligible  Purchasers" in the Fund's prospectus for a discussion
of the potential risks associated with "mixed funding."

     You may  allocate  your net premium  payments to  divisions of the Separate
Account and/or the Fixed Account.  Currently there are eight divisions available
to you.  Not all  divisions  are  available  in all  states.  A current  list of
divisions available in your state may be obtained from a sales representative or
our home office.

     Each division invests in shares of an underlying mutual fund. More detailed
information  about  the  underlying  mutual  funds  may be found in the  current
prospectus for each underlying mutual fund.

     The  underlying  mutual  funds  are NOT  available  to the  general  public
directly.  The underlying mutual funds are available only as investment  options
in variable life insurance policies or variable annuity contracts issued by life
insurance  companies.  Some of the underlying mutual funds have been established
by investment  advisers that manage  publicly traded mutual funds having similar
names and investment  objectives.  While some of the underlying mutual funds may
be similar to, and may in fact be modeled  after  publicly  traded mutual funds,
you  should  understand  that the  underlying  mutual  funds  are not  otherwise
directly  related  to  any  publicly  traded  mutual  fund.  Consequently,   the
investment  performance  of publicly  traded mutual funds and of any  underlying
mutual fund may differ substantially.
    

      The  investment  objective of the Balanced  Account 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 Account 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 Account'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  Account's  portfolio  will be  invested in equity
securities with the balance of the portfolio invested in debt securities.

      The investment objective of the Bond Account 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 Account predominantly
invests  in  marketable  fixed-income  securities.   Investments  will  be  made
generally on a long-term basis, but the Account may make short-term  investments
from time to time as deemed prudent by the Account's Manager.  Longer maturities
typically  provide  better  yields  but will  subject  the  Account to a greater
possibility of substantial changes in the values of its portfolio  securities as
interest rates change.

     The  investment  objective  of  the  Capital  Value  Account  is  primarily
long-term capital  appreciation and secondarily growth of investment income. The
Account  invests  primarily in common stocks,  but it may invest in other equity
securities.  In making selections for the Account's  investment  portfolio,  the
Manager uses an approach described broadly as that of fundamental  analysis.  In
pursuit of the  Account's  investment  objectives,  investments  will be made in
securities which as a group appear to offer long-term  prospects for capital and
income growth.  Securities  chosen for investment may include those of companies
which the Account's  Manager believes can reasonably be expected to share in the
growth of the nation's economy over the long term.

     The  Government  Securities  Account has an investment  objective of a high
level of current income, liquidity and safety of principal. The Account 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 Account's
assets invested in Government National Mortgage Association  Certificates ("GNMA
Certificates"). Account shares, however, are not guaranteed by the United States
Government.  The value of the Account'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 the Growth  Account is growth of capital.  Realization  of
current  income will be incidental  to the  objective of growth of capital.  The
Account  will  invest  primarily  in common  stocks,  but it may invest in other
equity securities. In pursuit of the Account'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 a high
potential  for growth of capital  can mean that the assets of the Account may be
subject to greater risk than securities which do not have such potential.

     The investment objective of the International  Account 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 Account 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 Account 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.

     The objective of the MidCap Account is to achieve capital appreciation. The
strategy of this Account is to invest  primarily in 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 Account'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 MidCap  Account  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.

     The Money Market Account 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 Account  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 Account 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.

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

     Each  Division  purchases  shares  of an  Account  at net asset  value.  In
addition,  all  distributions  made by an Account with respect to shares held by
Divisions of Separate  Account B are reinvested at net asset value in additional
shares of the same Account.  Contract benefits are provided and charges are made
in effect by  redeeming  Account  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 Account
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 Contract Administration  Expense/Recordkeeping Charge and a mortality and
expense  risks  charge  are  deducted  under  the  contract.  Also,  in  certain
circumstances,  a Contingent  Deferred Sales Charge may be deducted from certain
cash  withdrawals  and transfers to alternate  Funding Agents from an Investment
Account before the Annuity Purchase Date.

     There are also  deductions  from and expenses paid out of the assets of the
Accounts. These expenses are described in the Fund's prospectus.

A.   Contingent Deferred Sales Charge

     There is no initial  sales charge.  However,  any cash  withdrawal  from an
     Investment  Account  which  correlates  to a Plan  Participant  before  the
     Annuity Purchase Date, may be subject to a Contingent Deferred Sales Charge
     equal to a percentage of the amount being withdrawn. The percentage will be
     determined according to the following table:

                 Number of Years From The
                  Date First Contribution
                Which Correlates to a Plan
                 Participant is Accepted               Contingent Deferred Sales
                      by the Company                       Charge Percentage
                --------------------------             -------------------------
                          Less than 1                             5.00%
                    1 but less than 2                             4.25
                    2 but less than 3                             3.50
                    3 but less than 4                             2.75
                    4 but less than 5                             2.00
                    5 but less than 6                             1.25
                    6 but less than 7                             0.50
                            7 or more                              None

     The charge will be made by redeeming a sufficient  number of units from the
     Investment  Account or  Accounts  from which the  withdrawal  is made by an
     amount  equal to the charge  (see "Cash  Withdrawals").  If the  Investment
     Account or Accounts from which the withdrawal is made are  insufficient  to
     permit the full  amount of the charge to be made,  a  sufficient  number of
     units  from  other   Investment   Accounts  which  correlate  to  the  Plan
     Participant  will be redeemed on a pro rata basis in an amount equal to the
     charge.  If the amounts in the Investment  Accounts which  correlate to the
     Plan  Participant are  insufficient to permit the full amount of the charge
     to be made, the amount of the withdrawal will be reduced by an amount equal
     to the charge.

     The Contingent  Deferred Sales Charge does not apply to withdrawals made as
     a result of the Plan Participant's death or Total and Permanent Disability.
     The charge also does not apply to amounts  paid  pursuant  to the  Flexible
     Income  Option  that do not exceed the  greater of (i) the  minimum  annual
     amount determined in accordance with the minimum  distribution rules of the
     Internal Revenue Code, or (ii) 10% of the aggregate value of the Investment
     Accounts which  correlate to a Plan  Participant  determined as of the last
     Valuation  Date in the  preceding  Deposit  Year.  The charge also does not
     apply to transfers between Investment  Accounts or transfers to a Companion
     Contract,  transfers from a Premier Annuity  Contract or to amounts applied
     to  provide  Variable  Annuity  Payments.  The  charge may apply to amounts
     transferred  to an alternate  Funding  Agent.  The charge does not apply to
     amounts  redeemed  to assure the plan  complies  with  Sections  401(k) and
     401(m) of the Internal Revenue Code.

     The amount of any Contingent  Deferred Sales Charge will never exceed 9% of
     Contributions  which correlate to a Plan Participant.  For this purpose,  a
     transfer from a Companion  Contract will be  considered a  Contribution  to
     this contract.

     The Contingent Deferred Sales Charge,  when applicable,  will be applied by
     the  Company to defray  sales and  distribution  expenses  incurred  by the
     Company.  The Company may decrease or  eliminate  the  Contingent  Deferred
     Sales Charge if it estimates  that its sales  expenses  will be lower.  The
     Company  will  waive the  Contingent  Deferred  Sales  Charge on  Contracts
     (except Contracts sold in the state of New York) acquired 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.
     If revenues from the Contingent Deferred Sales Charge are not sufficient to
     cover sales expenses,  the short fall could be viewed as being provided for
     out  of  other  revenues  or  the  Company's  surplus,  including  revenues
     attributable to the mortality and expense risks charge.

B.   Contract Administration Expense/Recordkeeping Charge

     An annual Contract Administration  Expense/Recordkeeping  Charge of $34 per
     Plan  Participant  plus .35% of the Annual  Balance ($750  minimum) will be
     assessed on a quarterly  basis during each Deposit Year. The Annual Balance
     used to compute the charge is the aggregate  value of  Investment  Accounts
     which correlate to a Plan Participant, and other Plan assets that 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"), at the end of each quarter. The
     $34  per  Plan  Participant  charge  is  increased  to $37  if the  Company
     distributes  benefit  plan  reports  directly  to the  homes  of  the  Plan
     Participants.

     The Contract Administration  Expense/Recordkeeping  Charge will be assessed
     on the earlier of (i) the date the Investment  Accounts are paid in full (a
     total  redemption)  or (ii) each Quarterly  Date.  One-fourth of the annual
     charge is normally assessed on each Quarterly Date.

     If the  accounts are paid in full (a total  redemption)  at any time during
     the Deposit Year, that portion of the $34 ($37) per Plan Participant charge
     for the Deposit Year in which such total redemption  occurs not yet paid to
     the Company will be assessed in full.  However,  the remaining  part of the
     Contract Administration Expense/Recordkeeping Charge consisting of the .35%
     of the Average  Annual Balance will be assessed on a pro rata basis for any
     fractional part of the Deposit Year.

   
     The recordkeeping  expense will be $34 ($37). The recordkeeping  expense is
     reduced by 10% if Plan contributions are reported in the Company's standard
     form by modem.  Effective on the first day of the Deposit Year in 1999,  an
     additional 5%  recordkeeping  charge will apply if  investment  changes and
     transfers are  transmitted  to the Company by paper rather than through our
     toll-free number (1-800-633-1373). In addition, if benefit plan reports are
     mailed on other than a quarterly  basis the $34 ($37) per Plan  Participant
     charge is adjusted according to the following schedule:
    

                Reporting Frequency         Adjustment to $34 ($37) Charge
                -------------------         ------------------------------
                      Annual                          9% decrease
                    Semi-Annual                       6% decrease
                      Monthly                        24% increase

     The $34 ($37) per Plan  Participant  charge is also adjusted if the Company
     performs more (or less) than two 401(k) and 401(m) non-discrimination tests
     in a Deposit  Year.  Such a charge is increased  by 3% for each  additional
     test and is reduced by 3% for each test not performed by the Company.

     The  .35%  portion  of the  Contract  Administration  Expense/Recordkeeping
     charge  will be reduced  by 10% if the  Company  has  issued an  Associated
     Contract to the Contractowner.

     If the Owner of Benefits chooses the Flexible Income Option,  an additional
     charge of $25 will be assessed annually.

     The  Company  does not  expect to  recover  from the  charge to the  extent
     deducted  from  the  Investment   Account  Values,  any  amount  above  its
     accumulated  expenses  associated with the administration of the contracts.
     However,  since a portion of the charge is based on a percent of Investment
     Account Values,  amounts derived from larger Investment  Accounts may to an
     extent cover expenses associated with smaller Investment Accounts depending
     upon the relative degree of Investment Account activity.

     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 the Contract Administration Expense/Recordkeeping Charge in
     response to any reasonably-based complaint the Company is unable to rectify
     from the  Contractholder  as to the quality of the services covered by such
     charge.

     A  Contractholder  may  agree  to pay  all  or a  portion  of the  Contract
     Administration  Expense/Recordkeeping  Charge  separately  or have the fees
     deducted from Investment Accounts which correlate to a Plan Participant. If
     the  Contractholder  elects  to deduct  these  charges,  the  amount of the
     quarterly charge so deducted will not exceed 1% of the aggregate Investment
     Account  Values  which  correlate to the Plan  Participant  at the time the
     charge is made.

     If deducted from  Investment  Accounts,  the charge will be allocated among
     Investment  Accounts which correlate to the Plan  Participant in proportion
     to the relative  values of such Accounts and will be effected by cancelling
     a number of units in each such  Investment  Account equal to such Account's
     proportionate share of the deduction.

     If    the     Contractholder     pays    the    Contract     Administration
     Expense/Recordkeeping  Charge separately, the 1% limitation described above
     will not apply. If the  Contractholder  does not pay these  expenses,  they
     will be deducted from Investment Accounts.

     If the Company provides  recordkeeping services for any Outside Assets, the
     Contractholder  can elect to deduct from  Investment  Accounts only the $34
     ($37) portion of the Contract Administration  Expense/Recordkeeping Charges
     which correlate 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);
     Contract  Administration  Expense/Recordkeeping  Charges  for  active  Plan
     Participants must be paid separately by the Contractholder.

C.   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 .64%. The Company does not believe
     that it is  possible  to  specifically  identify  that  portion of the .64%
     deduction  applicable to the separate risks involved,  but estimates that a
     reasonable approximate allocation would be .43% for the mortality risks and
     .21% 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.  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.  In no
event are these expenses  deductible from Investment Accounts which correlate to
Plan Participants.  The expenses which the Contractholder must pay if applicable
include an application fee, a transfer fee,  documentation  expense,  a location
fee,  Outside  Asset  Recordkeeping  Charge and  charges  for  special  services
requested by the  Contractholder.  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 of these  expenses  or charges 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.

A.   Application Fee and Transfer Fee

     A $925  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  $925.  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.

B.   Documentation Expense

   
     The  Company  can  provide  a  sample  Plan   document   and  summary  plan
     descriptions to the Contractholder.  The Contractholder will be billed $125
     if the  Contractholder  uses a  Principal  Financial  Group  Prototype  for
     Savings  Plans 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.
    

C.   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 billed $150 on a quarterly basis ($600
     annually)  for each  additional  employee  group or location.  In addition,
     separate  contract  administration/recordkeeping  charges and documentation
     fees may apply  for each  employee  group or  location  requiring  separate
     government reports and/or sample plan documents.

D.   Outside Asset Recordkeeping Charge

     If the  Company  provides  recordkeeping  services  for Plan  assets  which
     correlate to a Plan Participant other than assets under this contract or an
     Associated or Companion Contract ("Outside Assets"),  the Company will bill
     the Contractholder an Outside Asset Recordkeeping Charge. The annual charge
     is calculated based upon the following table.

                    Number of                           Outside Asset
                  Members with                      Annual Recordkeeping
                Outside Accounts                           Expense
                ----------------             ----------------------------------
                 1-25                        $1,000
                 26-49                       $15.30  per member   +  $614.70
                 50-99                       $13.95  per member   +  $682.20
                 100-299                     $12.60  per member   +  $817.20
                 300-499                     $10.35  per member   +  $1,492.20
                 500-999                     $8.55   per member   +  $2,392.20
                 1000-2499                   $6.30   per member   +  $4,642.20
                 2500-4999                   $5.40   per member   +  $6,892.20
                 5000 and over               $4.50   per member   +  $11,392.20

     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.

E.   Special Services

     If requested by the  Contractholder,  the Company may provide  services not
     provided as part of the contract administration/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 and the Capital Value 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  Payments (b)
         paid to the Owner of Benefits or the  beneficiary or (c) transferred in
         accordance with the provisions of the contract.

         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 a  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  Account is determined.  The Unit
         Value  for a  Valuation  Period  is  determined  as of the  end of that
         period.  The  investment  performance  of the  underlying  Account  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  Account  as of the end of the  Valuation
              Period,  plus  the per  share  amount  of any  dividend  or  other
              distribution made by the Account during the Valuation Period (less
              an adjustment for taxes,  if any) by (ii) the net asset value of a
              share of the  Account 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 0.64%.

         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 an
         Account  share is  $14.8000;  that  there  were no  dividends  or other
         distributions made by the Account and no adjustment for taxes since the
         last  determination;  that the net asset value of an Account 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
         0.0000175, which is the rate for one day that is equivalent to a simple
         annual  rate of  0.64%.  The  result,  1.0013381,  is the  current  Net
         Investment  Factor. The last Unit Value ($1.0185363) is then multiplied
         by the current  Net  Investment  Factor  (1.0013381)  which  produces a
         current Unit Value of $1.0198992.

     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 an
         Account share is $1.0000;  that a dividend of .0328767  cents per share
         was declared by the Account prior to calculation of the net asset value
         of the Account share and that no other  distributions and no adjustment
         for taxes  were made since the last  determination;  that the net asset
         value of an Account 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 .0000175 (the  proportionate  rate for one
         day based on a simple annual rate of 0.64%).  The result (1.0003137) is
         the current Net Investment  Factor. The last Unit Value ($1.0162734) is
         then  multiplied  by the current  Net  Investment  Factor  (1.0003137),
         resulting in a current Unit Value of $1.0165922.

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  Value  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 Value  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  Value  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 Value  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
                  which  correlate  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 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 all or a  portion  of
                  Investment  Account  Values applied under one of the following
                  annuity  options.  However,  if the monthly  Variable  Annuity
                  Payment at any time would be less than $20,  the Company  may,
                  at its sole option,  pay the Variable Annuity Reserves 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 Owner of Benefits  or the  beneficiary
                  requests in writing that the Commuted  Value of the  remaining
                  payments  be paid in a single sum.  (Persons  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 Owner of  Benefits  or the
                  beneficiary requests in writing that the Commuted Value of the
                  remaining  payments be paid in a single sum. (Persons 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
                  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 sex neutral rates, as described  above. The
                  sex  distinct   male  rates  are   determined   for  all  Plan
                  Participants  in the same  way as the 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  Account   underlying  the  Capital  Value
                  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 Value  Division for the Contract
                  for the calendar month in which the Variable  Annuity  Payment
                  is due.

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

                  (1) The number which results from dividing (i) the  Contract's
                      Unit Value for the Capital  Value  Division  for the first
                      Valuation Date in the calendar  month  beginning one month
                      before  the given  calendar  month by (ii) 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 Value 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 Value 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).  1.0330694  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 Aggregate  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 Value which  correlates 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.  Payments
         in  excess  of  the  minimum  described  above  may be  subject  to the
         Contingent Deferred Sales Charge.

         The Owner of Benefits may  terminate  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.

         If the  Owner of  Benefits  chooses  the  Flexible  Income  Option,  an
         additional  charge $25.00 will be deducted annually on a pro rata basis
         from the Investment Accounts which correlate to the Plan Participant.

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 Owner of Benefits may
         elect to either  (1) leave the  assets in the  contract  to the  extent
         permitted by  applicable  laws;  (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.  The amount of the death
         benefit is determined by the terms of the Plan.  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  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 annuity  conversion  rates  applicable  to a beneficiary
         shall be the annuity  conversion  rates the Company makes  available to
         Owners of Benefits 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 the  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 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
         subject to any charges that may be applied.  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  Notification  be accompanied by such
              certificate.

         (d)  The amount  withdrawn  may be subject to the  Contingent  Deferred
              Sales  Charge and, in the case of a  withdrawal  of the  Aggregate
              Investment   Account  Value,  will  be  subject  to  the  Contract
              Administration  Expense/Recordkeeping  Charge.  If  the  Aggregate
              Investment  Account Values are  insufficient to satisfy the amount
              of the requested  withdrawal  and applicable  charges,  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.  Units will also be cancelled to
              cover any charges assessed under (d) above.

                  (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 an  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 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  may  be  subject  to  the
         Contingent  Deferred  Sales  Charge and will be subject to the Contract
         Administration Expense/Recordkeeping Charge.

     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 Account 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
         Account of securities owned by it is not reasonably practicable or (ii)
         it is not  reasonably  practicable  for the Account 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 an Account 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 Account or 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 also add  additional  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, Net Investment Factors,  Annuity
         Change Factors; the guaranteed annuity conversion rates; the provisions
         with respect to  transfers  to or from a Companion  Contract or between
         Investment  Accounts;  the Contingent  Deferred  Sales Charge;  and the
         Contract Administration Expense/Recordkeeping Charge.

         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 any  governmental  agency to which the
         company is subject.  In addition,  no change on the guaranteed  annuity
         conversion  rates  or the  Contingent  Deferred  Sales  Charge  will be
         effective  for any  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/Recordkeeping
         Charge  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,
         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 no longer offered, was 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,  those  persons were  usually  registered  representatives  of Princor
Financial Services Corporation,  a company 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  was also 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 a
subsidiary of Principal Financial Services, Inc.
    

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,  the Divisions  invest in Accounts of the Principal  Variable  Contract
Fund, Inc. These Accounts correspond to open-end  investment  companies ("mutual
funds") which,  effective January 1, 1998, were reorganized into the Accounts of
the Principal Variable Contracts Fund, Inc. as follows:

               Old Mutual Fund Name              New Corresponding Account Name
               --------------------              ------------------------------
     Principal Balanced Fund, Inc.                Balanced Account
     Principal Bond Fund, Inc.                    Bond Account
     Principal Capital Accumulation Fund, Inc.    Capital Value Account
     Principal Emerging Growth Fund, Inc.         MidCap Account
     Principal Government Securities Fund, Inc.   Government Securities Account
     Principal Growth Fund, Inc.                  Growth Account
     Principal Money Market Fund, Inc.            Money Market Account
     Principal World Fund, Inc.                   International Account

Some of the Accounts  (under their former  names) were offered prior to the date
that the  Contract  was  available.  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 Account in which such Division invests was first offered. The
hypothetical  performance from the date of inception of the Account in which the
Division invests is derived by reducing the actual performance of the underlying
Account by the fees and charges of the Contract as if it had been in  existence.
The yield and total return  figures  described  below will vary  depending  upon
market conditions,  the composition of the underlying  Account's  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" 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 contingent  deferred sales charges which, if included,  would
reduce the "yield" and "effective yield."

     In addition,  from time to time,  the Separate  Account will  advertise its
"yield" for the Bond  Division  and  Government  Securities  Division  for these
contracts.  The "yield" of these  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.
This yield quotation does not reflect a contingent  deferred sales charge which,
if included, would reduce the "yield."

     Also,  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. In
this  calculation  the ending  value is reduced by a contingent  deferred  sales
charge  that  decreases  from 5% to 0% over a period  of 7 years.  The  Separate
Account may also advertise total return figures of its Divisions for a specified
period that do not take into  account the  contingent  deferred  sales charge in
order to  illustrate  the change in the  Division's  unit  value over time.  See
"Deductions  Under the Contract" for a discussion of contingent  deferred  sales
charges.  The Separate  Account may also  advertise  total return figures of its
Divisions  for a  specified  period that do not take into  account the  Contract
Administration  Expense/Recordkeeping  Charge in order to illustrate performance
applicable  to  Owners  of  Benefits  when  this  charge  is not  deducted  from
Investment Accounts.

VOTING RIGHTS

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

     The number of Account  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 Account, 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  Account  shares  attributable  to the  Investment
Accounts which correlate to the Plan  Participant.  The number of Account 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
Account.

     During the annuity  period,  the person then  entitled to Variable  Annuity
Payments  has the voting  interest in the  Account  shares  attributable  to the
variable annuity.  The number of Account 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 Account share. The voting
interest  in the  Account  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.

     Account 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 Account 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 Account 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 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  Contributions  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,    other   than   distributions   from   after-tax
         Contributions, from a section 403(b) annuity 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 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 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  331/3%  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.  The minimum distribution requirements for PEDC
         Plans are generally  the same as those for qualified  plans and section
         403(b)  Plans,  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. Payments made by employers to purchase annuity contracts
         for qualified pension and profit sharing plans, under Section 401(a) of
         the Code,  are  excludable  from the gross  income of  employees to the
         extent that the aggregate  Contributions  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 $10,000 (1998 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 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).   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  withdrawals  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  pre-existing  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  pre-existing  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  Contractholder  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,  they 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 Plan 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 for the Plan Participant 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 B 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  Account 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 an Account to
     meet the  diversification  requirements  could  result in tax  liability to
     Creditor-Exempt Non-Qualified Contractholders.

     The investment  opportunities of the Accounts 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,  Senior 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.

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

   
     The  financial  statements of Principal  Life  Insurance  Company  Separate
Account B and the financial statements of Principal 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.

YEAR 2000 READINESS DISCLOSURE

Starting in early 1995, as a corporate effort,  the Company  recognized the Year
2000  could  have a  significant  impact  on our  operations.  With  the  strong
commitment  from the  Board of  Directors,  Chief  Executive  Officer  and Chief
Information Officer, we initiated a comprehensive plan to ensure our systems and
facilities would function correctly regardless of the date on the calendar.

Assessments of our computer systems were completed in 1996. We identified 35,000
programs  comprising  40 million  lines of  mainframe  code,  1,300 PC  software
packages,  and 400,000+  end-user PC applications  that could be affected by the
Year 2000.

Our  analysis  didn't stop  there.  We  requested  Year 2000  compliance  status
information  from hardware and software vendors of over 1,000 PC systems and 450
mainframe systems. New purchase agreements,  along with renewal agreements, have
included a "Year 2000" warranty clause since 1997.

In 1997, we contacted  critical service and product  suppliers such as banks and
utility  companies  regarding their Year 2000  readiness.  To further assess the
stability of our external supply chain, we conducted another survey in 1998, and
a third evaluation of our most critical suppliers will take place in 1999.

As of December 31, 1998, 100 percent of our identified  mission  critical system
renovations were completed,  tested and in production. We expect to complete the
remaining  identified  changes by June 30,  1999 (when we  receive  and  install
updated software releases from our outside vendors).

Full-scale  testing  of our  systems  began in  March  1998  using an  in-house,
isolated  testing  facility.  We include  "system date  manipulation"  and "file
aging" processes to verify a wide variety of dates before, on, and after January
1, 2000, including February 29, 2000 (leap day).

Our  objective  is to  complete  full-scale  testing of all  identified  mission
critical systems in second quarter 1999, with significant attentions to year-end
and leap-year processing.  Verification will continue through 1999, and into the
early part of 2000, to ensure no new date related  problems are introduced  into
previously tested or newly developed systems.

We believe our thorough  systems  testing process should  eliminate  significant
date related  problems that could affect our systems.  We will have staff onsite
during  critical  times to ensure a timely and accurate  response to  unforeseen
issues which may arise.

Contingency plan development  began July 1998. The methodology was documented in
November 1998. We expect initial plans to be completed by March 31, 1999.  These
plans are being developed to address  external  systems and  non-systems  events
that  could  affect  our  operations.  Many of those  scenarios  are  beyond our
control,  so we are  identifying  possible  options,  which will minimize  their
impact.  We are also  communicating  with other  entities  involved to encourage
their  Year  2000  preparedness.   We  will  reevaluate  our  contingency  plans
throughout the Year 2000 experience.

The cost  associated  with  completing  our Year 2000 readiness for the business
unit of the  Company  which  issues  the Policy is  estimated  to be $1.3 - $1.6
million.

Additional   corporate  Y2K   information   can  be  found  on  our  website  at
www.principal.com/general/faqy2k.htm.
    

CONTRACTHOLDERS' INQUIRIES

   
     Contractholders' inquiries should be directed to Princor Financial Services
Corporation,  a company 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

   
     Principal Life Insurance Company Separate Account B
    

              Report of Independent Auditors...................................7

              Financial Statements.............................................8

   
     Principal Life Insurance Company


              Report of Independent Auditors..................................31

              Financial Statements............................................32
    
     To  obtain  a copy of the  Statement  of  Additional  Information,  free of
charge, write or telephone:

   
                     Princor Financial Services Corporation
                                  a company of
                          the Principal Financial Group
                            Des Moines, IA 50392-0200
                            Telephone: 1-800-633-1373
    

                                    PART B

   
               PRINCIPAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY SEPARATE ACCOUNT B
    

            PERSONAL VARIABLE (A GROUP VARIABLE ANNUITY CONTRACT FOR

         EMPLOYER SPONSORED QUALIFIED AND NON-QUALIFIED RETIREMENTPLANS)



                       Statement of Additional Information

   
                                dated May 1, 1999


This Statement of Additional  Information  provides  information about Principal
Life Insurance  Company  Separate  Account B Personal  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, 1999.
    

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 company of
                          the Principal Financial Group
                           Des Moines Iowa 50392-0200
                            Telephone: 1-800-633-1373
    


                                TABLE OF CONTENTS


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

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

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

   
Principal Life Insurance Company Separate Account B

        Report of Independent Auditors......................................  7

        Financial Statements................................................  8

Principal Life Insurance Company

        Report of Independent Auditors...................................... 31

        Financial Statements................................................ 32
    


INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

   
Ernst & Young LLP, Des Moines, Iowa, serve as independent auditors for Principal
Life  Insurance  Company  Separate  Account B and the Principal  Life  Insurance
Company and perform audit and accounting services for Separate Account B and the
Principal Life Insurance 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
       ----                      -------                    -----------
       1998                   $13,709,101.12                    _
       1997                   $11,491,356.06                   $340.24
       1996                   $11,090,837.12                $14,528.47
       1995                    $5,326,848.77                $26,014.78
    

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,  the Divisions  invest in Accounts of the Principal  Variable  Contract
Fund, Inc. These Accounts correspond to open-end  investment  companies ("mutual
funds") which,  effective January 1, 1998, were reorganized into the Accounts of
the Principal Variable Contracts Fund, Inc. as follows:

           Old Mutual Fund Name                   New Corresponding Account Name
           --------------------                   ------------------------------
     Principal Balanced Fund, Inc.               Balanced Account
     Principal Bond Fund, Inc.                   Bond Account
     Principal Capital Accumulation Fund, Inc.   Capital Value Account
     Principal Emerging Growth Fund, Inc.        MidCap Account
     Principal Government Securities Fund, Inc.  Government Securities Account
     Principal Growth Fund, Inc.                 Growth Account
     Principal Money Market Fund, Inc.           Money Market Account
     Principal World Fund, Inc.                  International Account

Some of the Accounts  (under their former  names) were offered prior to the date
that the  Contract  was  available.  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 Account in which such Division invests was first offered. The
hypothetical  performance from the date of inception of the Account in which the
Division invests is derived by reducing the actual performance of the underlying
Account by the fees and charges of the Contract as if it had been in  existence.
The yield and total return  figures  described  below will vary  depending  upon
market conditions,  the composition of the underlying  Account's  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  that, if included,  would
reduce the "yield" and  "effective  yield." For the period  ended  December  31,
1998,  the  7-day   annualized  and  effective  yields  were  4.01%  and  4.15%,
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. In this calculation
the ending value is reduced by a contingent deferred sales charge that decreases
from 5% to 0% over a period of 7 years.  The Separate Account may also advertise
total return figures of its Divisions for a specified  period that does not take
into  account  the  sales  charge  in  order to  illustrate  the  change  in the
Division's  unit value over time.  See  "Deductions  Under the  Contract"  for a
discussion of contingent deferred sales charges.

   
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, 1998 are:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                     With Contingent Deferred                   Without Contingent Deferred
                                           Sales Charge                                Sales Charge
                                    --------------------------                  ---------------------------
                                      One      Five       Ten                    One       Five        Ten
                                     Year      Year      Year                   Year       Year       Year
                                    ------     -----     -----                  -----      -----      -----
<S>                                 <C>        <C>       <C>                    <C>        <C>        <C>  
Balanced Division                    6.24      11.43     11.18                  10.97      11.72      11.18
Bond Division                        2.21       6.41      8.34                   6.76       6.68       8.34
Capital Value Division               7.80      17.65     13.97                  12.60      17.95      13.97
Government Securities Division       2.76       5.78      8.23                   7.34       6.05       8.23
Growth Division                     15.18      18.00(1)    N/A                  20.31      18.52(1)     N/A
International Division               4.39      10.69(1)    N/A                   9.03      11.18(1)     N/A
MidCap Division                     (1.59)     13.58     15.16                   2.79      13.87      15.16
Money Market Division               (0.10)      3.75      4.35                   4.34       4.02       4.35

<FN>
(1) Period from May 2, 1994 - December 31, 1998
</FN>
</TABLE>

Assuming the  contract  had been offered as of the dates  indicated in the table
below and assuming the Contract Administration  Expense/Recordkeeping  Charge is
not deducted from Investment  Accounts,  the  hypothetical  average annual total
returns for the periods ending December 31, 1998 are:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                     With Contingent Deferred                   Without Contingent Deferred
                                           Sales Charge                                Sales Charge
                                    --------------------------                  ---------------------------
                                      One      Five       Ten                    One       Five       Ten
                                     Year      Year       Year                  Year       Year       Year
                                    ------     -----     -----                  -----      -----      -----
<S>                                 <C>        <C>       <C>                    <C>        <C>        <C>  
Balanced Division                    6.48      11.79     11.70                  11.20      12.07      11.70
Bond Division                        2.45       6.75      8.84                   7.00       7.02       8.84
Capital Value Division               8.06      18.03     14.49                  12.86      18.33      14.49
Government Securities Division       3.01       6.12      8.73                   7.58       6.39       8.73
Growth Division                     15.46      18.26(1)    N/A                  20.58      18.77(1)     N/A
International Division               4.64      10.94(1)    N/A                   9.28      11.42(1)     N/A
MidCap Division                     -1.35      13.95     15.56                   3.02      14.24      15.56
Money Market Division                0.14       4.09      4.83                   4.58       4.35       4.83

<FN>
(1) Period from May 2, 1994 - December 31, 1998
</FN>
</TABLE>



                         Report of Independent Auditors





Board of Directors and Participants
Principal Life Insurance Company


We have  audited the  accompanying  statement  of net assets of  Principal  Life
Insurance Company Separate Account B (comprising,  respectively,  the Aggressive
Growth,  Asset  Allocation,  Balanced,  Bond,  Capital Value  [formerly  Capital
Accumulation],  Government Securities,  Growth,  International [formerly World],
MidCap [formerly  Emerging Growth],  and Money Market Divisions;  and, beginning
May 1, 1998 [date operations commenced],  the International SmallCap,  MicroCap,
MidCap Growth,  Real Estate,  SmallCap,  SmallCap  Growth,  SmallCap Value,  and
Utilities  Divisions)  as of December 31, 1998,  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, 1998, 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  Life  Insurance
Company  Separate  Account  B at  December  31,  1998,  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.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Des Moines, Iowa
January 29, 1999



<PAGE>



                            Principal Life Insurance
                           Company Separate Account B

                             Statement of Net Assets

                                December 31, 1998




Assets
Investments:
   Aggressive Growth Division:
     Aggressive Growth Account - 11,371,446 shares at net asset value of $18.33
        per share (cost - $178,267,259)
                                                             $   208,438,611
   Asset Allocation Division:
     Asset Allocation Account - 5,104,252 shares at net asset value of $12.30
        per share (cost - $60,233,970)
                                                                     62,782,299
   Balanced Division:
     Balanced Account - 11,546,085 shares at net asset value
       of $16.25 per share (cost - $174,579,287)                           
                                                                  187,623,872
   Bond Division:
     Bond Account - 9,732,261 shares at net asset value of $12.02 per share
        (cost -$115,148,744)                                               
                                                                 116,981,771
   Capital Value Division:
     Capital Value Account - 9,635,914 shares at net asset value of $37.19
        per share (cost - $302,231,124)                                   
                                                                 358,359,614
   Government Securities Division:
     Government Securities Account - 12,410,577 shares at
       net asset value of $11.01 per share (cost - $132,699,642)          
                                                                 136,640,443
   Growth Division:
     Growth Account - 12,388,261 shares at net asset value of
       $20.46 per share (cost - $183,113,548)                             
                                                                 253,463,838
   International Division:
     International Account - 9,965,227 shares at net asset value of
       $14.51 per share (cost - $128,347,758)                             
                                                                 144,595,446
   International SmallCap Division:
     International SmallCap Account - 417,619 shares at net asset
       value of $9.00 per share (cost - $3,801,982)                        
                                                                   3,758,570
   MicroCap Division:
     MicroCap Account - 140,266 shares at net asset value of
       $8.17 per share (cost - $1,225,445)                                  
                                                                   1,145,974
   MidCap Division:
     MidCap Account - 6,771,410 shares at net asset value of
       $34.37 per share (cost - $198,836,712)                             
                                                                 232,733,374
   MidCap Growth Division:
     MidCap Growth Account - 351,189 shares at net asset value
       of $9.65 per share (cost - $3,104,721)                               
                                                                   3,388,971
   Money Market Division:
     Money Market Account - 73,597,012 shares at net asset value of $1.00 
       per share (cost - $73,597,012)                                        
                                                                  73,597,012

See accompanying notes.

Assets (continued)
   Real Estate Division:
     Real Estate Account - 199,858 shares at net asset value of $9.07
       per share (cost - $1,857,915)                                           
                                                           $       1,812,711
   SmallCap Division:
     SmallCap Account - 442,796 shares at net asset value of $8.21
       per share (cost - $3,515,041)                                           
                                                                   3,635,355
   SmallCap Growth Division:
     SmallCap Growth Account - 316,865 shares at net asset value of $10.10 
       per share (cost - $2,744,450)                                           
                                                                   3,200,338
   SmallCap Value Division:
     SmallCap Value Account - 309,231 shares at net asset value
       of $8.34 per share (cost - $2,559,608)                                  
                                                                   2,578,984
   Utilities Division:
     Utilities Account - 670,534 shares at net asset value of $10.93 per share 
       (cost - $6,711,416)                                                     
                                                                   7,328,933
                                                                                
                                                          ======================
Net assets                                                    $1,802,066,116
                                                                                
                                                          ======================



<PAGE>

                            Principal Life Insurance
                           Company Separate Account B

                       Statement of Net Assets (continued)

                                December 31, 1998
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            Unit
                                              Units         Value
                                             ------------------------
<S>                                          <C>           <C>          <C>
Net assets are represented by:
   Aggressive Growth Division:
     Contracts in accumulation period:
     The Principal Variable Annuity           7,485,637    $27.85       $208,438,611

   Asset Allocation Division:
     Contracts in accumulation period:
     The Principal Variable Annuity           3,761,735     16.69         62,782,299

   Balanced Division:
     Contracts in accumulation period:
       Personal Variable                      2,321,229      1.77          4,109,836
       Premier Variable                      14,770,828      1.79         26,396,964
       The Principal Variable Annuity         8,903,277     17.65        157,117,072
                                                                        ------------
                                                                        ------------
                                                                         187,623,872
   Bond Division:
     Contracts in accumulation period:
       Personal Variable                        765,780      1.47          1,126,185
       Premier Variable                       6,013,799      1.48          8,926,784
       The Principal Variable Annuity         7,498,613     14.26        106,928,802
                                                                        ------------
                                                                        ------------
                                                                         116,981,771
   Capital Value Division:
     Currently payable annuity contracts:
       Bankers Flexible Annuity                   4,299     31.50            135,398
       Pension Builder Plus - Rollover IRA       54,872      6.51            357,449
                                                                        ------------
                                                                             492,847
     Contracts in accumulation period:
       Bankers Flexible Annuity                 221,262     31.50          6,970,904
       Pension Builder Plus                   1,288,464      5.88          7,572,342
       Pension Builder Plus - Rollover IRA      293,222      6.51          1,907,883
       Personal Variable                      3,764,848      2.65          9,982,371
       Premier Variable                      22,328,019      2.69         60,046,505
       The Principal Variable Annuity        11,720,185     23.16        271,386,762
                                                                        ------------
                                                                         357,866,767
                                                                        ------------
                                                                         358,359,614
   Government Securities Division:
     Contracts in accumulation period:
       Pension Builder Plus                     488,033      2.17          1,061,229
       Pension Builder Plus - Rollover IRA      151,353      2.31            348,924
       Personal Variable                      1,953,940      1.52          2,973,074
       Premier Variable                       8,358,244      1.54         12,899,067
       The Principal Variable Annuity         8,553,946     13.95        119,358,149
                                                                        ------------
                                                                         136,640,443
   Growth Division:
     Contracts in accumulation period:
       Personal Variable                      2,232,330      2.13          4,744,796
       Premier Variable                      16,370,833      2.15         35,121,256
       The Principal Variable Annuity         9,862,571     21.66        213,597,786
                                                                        ------------
                                                                         253,463,838

See accompanying notes.
</TABLE>
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                 Unit
                                                                   Units         Value
                                                              ----------------------------
                                                              ----------------------------
<S>                                                               <C>            <C>       <C>
Net assets are represented by:
   International Division:
     Contracts in accumulation period:
       Personal Variable                                           1,510,915     $1.65     $    2,488,857
       Premier Variable                                            9,442,447      1.66         15,699,547
       The Principal Variable Annuity                              7,865,745     16.07        126,407,042
                                                                                           --------------
                                                                                              144,595,446
   International SmallCap Division:
     Contracts in accumulation period:
       The Principal Variable Annuity                                418,654      8.98          3,758,570

   MicroCap Division:
     Contracts in accumulation period:
       The Principal Variable Annuity                                141,369      8.11          1,145,974

   MidCap Division:
     Contracts in accumulation period:
       Personal Variable                                           1,917,499      1.92          3,685,468
       Premier Variable                                           12,204,415      1.94         23,677,140
       The Principal Variable Annuity                             10,738,428     19.12        205,370,766
                                                                                           --------------
                                                                                              232,733,374
   MidCap Growth Division:
     Contracts in accumulation period:
       The Principal Variable Annuity                                352,022      9.63          3,388,971

   Money Market Division:
     Contracts in accumulation period:
       Pension Builder Plus                                          369,783      1.96            723,423
       Pension Builder Plus - Rollover IRA                            10,667      2.05             21,829
       Personal Variable                                           1,329,920      1.28          1,695,975
       Premier Variable                                            9,868,681      1.30         12,764,651
       The Principal Variable Annuity                              4,904,753     11.91         58,391,134
                                                                                           --------------
                                                                                               73,597,012
   Real Estate Division:
     Contracts in accumulation period:
       The Principal Variable Annuity                                195,435      9.28          1,812,711

   SmallCap Division:
     Contracts in accumulation period:
       The Principal Variable Annuity                                458,539      7.93          3,635,355

   SmallCap Growth Division:
     Contracts in accumulation period:
       The Principal Variable Annuity                                314,420     10.18          3,200,338

   SmallCap Value Division:
     Contracts in accumulation period:
       The Principal Variable Annuity                                305,572      8.44          2,578,984

   Utilities Division:
     Contracts in accumulation period:
       The Principal Variable Annuity                                639,299     11.46          7,328,933
                                                                                           ==============
Net assets                                                                                 $1,802,066,116
                                                                                           ==============
</TABLE>
<PAGE>

                        Principal Life Insurance Company
                               Separate Account B

                             Statement of Operations

                          Year ended December 31, 1998


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                          Aggressive     Asset Allocation
                                                                        Growth Division      Division
                                                        Combined
                                                   --------------------------------------------------------
                                                   --------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                     <C>                 <C>               <C>         
Investment income
Income:
   Dividends                                            $ 35,563,154        $   386,909       $1,492,404
   Capital gains distributions                            50,235,913         10,088,357        1,853,405
                                                   --------------------------------------------------------
                                                   --------------------------------------------------------
Total income                                              85,799,067         10,475,266        3,345,809

Expenses:
   Mortality and expense risks                            17,696,159          2,218,045          702,097
   Administration charges                                    552,069            116,130            7,655
   Contingent sales charges                                1,597,700            206,988           72,030
                                                   --------------------------------------------------------
                                                   --------------------------------------------------------
                                                          19,845,928          2,541,163          781,782
                                                   --------------------------------------------------------
                                                   --------------------------------------------------------
Net investment income (loss)                              65,953,139          7,934,103        2,564,027

Realized and unrealized gains (losses) on
investments
Net realized gains (losses) on investments
                                                          12,416,637          2,390,605          109,943
Change in net unrealized appreciation/
   depreciation of investments                            69,585,710         16,690,371        1,193,914
                                                   --------------------------------------------------------
                                                   ========================================================
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting
   from operations                                      $147,955,486        $27,015,079       $3,867,884
                                                   ========================================================



See accompanying notes.
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                  Capital          Government
                                                              Balanced            Bond             Value            Securities
                                                              Division          Division          Division           Division 
                                                        -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                        -------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                          <C>               <C>               <C>               <C>           
Investment income
Income:
   Dividends                                                 $ 5,238,471       $5,971,195        $ 6,429,904       $6,927,074    
   Capital gains distributions                                 5,863,051           62,033         12,255,065                -    
                                                        -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                        -------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total income                                                  11,101,522        6,033,228         18,684,969        6,927,074    

Expenses:
   Mortality and expense risks                                 1,755,460        1,099,671          3,396,860        1,319,686    
   Administration charges                                         38,695           15,794            174,201           29,797    
   Contingent sales charges                                      142,069           98,023            248,388          119,994    
                                                        -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                        -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               1,936,224        1,213,488          3,819,449        1,469,477    
                                                        -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                        -------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net investment income (loss)                                   9,165,298        4,819,740         14,865,520        5,457,597    

Realized and unrealized gains (losses) on
investments
Net realized gains (losses) on investments
                                                                 612,459          256,093          3,370,612          519,217    
Change in net unrealized appreciation/
   depreciation of investments                                 5,916,307          403,378         16,709,725        1,581,620    
                                                        -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                        -------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting
   from operations                                           $15,694,064       $5,479,211        $34,945,857       $7,558,434    
                                                        =========================================================================


</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  Growth         International
                                                                 Division          Division
                                                        ---------------------------------------
                                                        ---------------------------------------
<S>                                                            <C>               <C>
Investment income
Income:
   Dividends                                                   $ 2,527,666       $2,324,284
   Capital gains distributions                                   2,405,834        4,824,427
                                                        ---------------------------------------
                                                        ---------------------------------------
Total income                                                     4,933,500        7,148,711

Expenses:
   Mortality and expense risks                                   2,326,505        1,572,370
   Administration charges                                           70,201           22,222
   Contingent sales charges                                        181,708          133,172
                                                        ---------------------------------------
                                                        ---------------------------------------
                                                                 2,578,414        1,727,764
                                                        ---------------------------------------
                                                        ---------------------------------------
Net investment income (loss)                                     2,355,086        5,420,947

Realized and unrealized gains (losses) on
investments
Net realized gains (losses) on investments
                                                                 2,312,393        1,240,861
Change in net unrealized appreciation/
   depreciation of investments                                  32,170,680        3,163,616
                                                        ---------------------------------------
                                                        ---------------------------------------
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting
   from operations                                             $36,838,159       $9,825,424
                                                        =======================================
</TABLE>

                        Principal Life Insurance Company
                               Separate Account B

                       Statement of Operations (continued)

                          Year ended December 31, 1998

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                          International                                                 MidCap     
                                       SmallCap Division*      MicroCap            MidCap               Growth     
                                                               Division*          Division             Division*   
                                       ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                           <C>              <C>               <C>                   <C>         
 Investment income
 Income:
 Dividends                                    $  9,794         $   4,786         $ 1,368,645           $      -    
 Capital gains distributions                         -                 -          12,883,741                  -    
                                       ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Total income                                    9,794             4,786          14,252,386                  -    
                                                                                                                   
 Expenses:                                                                                                         
 Mortality and expense risks                    16,991             6,089           2,595,067             12,207    
 Administration charges                            210               126              59,714                245    
 Contingent sales charges                           87               378             249,206              1,273    
                                       ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                17,288             6,593           2,903,987             13,725    
                                       ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Net investment income (loss)                   (7,494)           (1,807)         11,348,399            (13,725)   
                                                                                                                   
Realized and unrealized gains                                                                                      
(losses) on investments                                                                                            
 Net realized gains (losses) on                                                                                    
   investments                                 (34,310)          (30,669)          1,666,097             (8,805)   
 Change in net unrealized                                                                                          
   appreciation/depreciation of                                                                                    
   investments                                 (43,412)          (79,471)         (9,573,159)           284,250
                                       ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       ============================================================================
 Net increase (decrease) in net                                                                                    
   assets resulting from operations                                                                                
                                              $(85,216)        $(111,947)        $ 3,441,337           $261,720    
                                       ============================================================================
                                                                                                                   
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                            Money                                           SmallCap Growth   SmallCap Value       
                                       Market Division     Real Estate        SmallCap         Division*         Division*         
                                                            Division*        Division*                                             
                                      ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                        <C>                <C>               <C>              <C>                <C>            
 Investment income                                                                                                                 
 Income:                                                                                                                           
 Dividends                                 $2,711,098         $53,265           $    338         $      -           $ 9,921        
 Capital gains distributions                        -               -                  -                -                 -        
                                      ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Total income                               2,711,098          53,265                338                -             9,921        
                                                                                                                                   
 Expenses:                                                                                                                         
 Mortality and expense risks                  607,616           7,997             13,571           11,177            10,196        
 Administration charges                        15,992             131                228              166               159        
 Contingent sales charges                     142,955             193                 87              338               303        
                                      ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              766,563           8,321             13,886           11,681            10,658        
                                      ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Net investment income (loss)               1,944,535          44,944            (13,548)         (11,681)             (737)       
                                                                                                                                   
Realized and unrealized gains                                                                                                      
(losses) on investments                                                                                                            
 Net realized gains (losses) on                                                                                                    
   investments                                      -          (1,854)            (4,971)           1,417            (6,817)       
 Change in net unrealized                                                                                                          
   appreciation/depreciation of                                                                                                    
   investments                                      -         (45,204)           120,314          455,888            19,376        
                                      ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Net increase (decrease) in net                                                                                                    
   assets resulting from operations        $1,944,535         $(2,114)          $101,795         $445,624           $11,822        
                                      =============================================================================================
</TABLE>



                                       Utilities      
                                       Division*      
                                     ---------------- 
                                     ---------------- 
 Investment income                                    
 Income:                                              
 Dividends                               $107,400     
 Capital gains distributions                    -     
                                     ---------------- 
                                     ---------------- 
 Total income                             107,400     
                                                      
 Expenses:                                            
 Mortality and expense risks               24,554     
 Administration charges                       403     
 Contingent sales charges                     508     
                                     ---------------- 
                                     ---------------- 
                                           25,465     
                                     ---------------- 
                                     ---------------- 
 Net investment income (loss)              81,935     
                                                      
Realized and unrealized gains                         
(losses) on investments                               
 Net realized gains (losses) on                       
   investments                             24,366     
 Change in net unrealized                             
   appreciation/depreciation of                       
   investments                            617,517     
                                     ---------------- 
                                     ---------------- 
 Net increase (decrease) in net                       
   assets resulting from operations      $723,818     
                                     ================ 


*   Commenced operations May 1, 1998.


See accompanying notes.




<PAGE>



                        Principal Life Insurance Company
                               Separate Account B

                       Statements of Changes in Net Assets

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                       Aggressive        Asset
                                                                        Growth         Allocation       Balanced
                                                     Combined          Division         Division        Division
                                                 ------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                <C>               <C>             <C>              <C>
Net assets at January 1, 1997                       $ 806,097,603     $72,827,189     $30,022,679      $75,478,532
Increase (decrease) in net assets
Operations:
   Net investment income                               70,282,286      16,875,413      4,939,230         9,943,711
   Net realized gains on investments                    5,671,902         464,006         63,749           453,888
   Change in net unrealized appreciation/
     depreciation of investments                      102,587,382       9,210,372        744,626         4,610,751
                                                 ------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 ------------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase in net assets resulting from             178,541,570      26,549,791      5,747,605        15,008,350
   operations
Changes from principal transactions:
   Purchase payments, less sales charges, per
     payment fees and applicable premium taxes        627,937,841      59,917,348     16,705,667        53,714,866
   Contract terminations                              (55,874,169)     (3,178,242)    (1,163,611)       (4,281,984)
   Death benefit payments                              (4,316,597)       (405,803)       (51,804)         (958,828)
   Flexible withdrawal option payments                 (7,524,649)       (555,143)      (424,697)       (1,011,471)
   Transfer payments to other contracts              (256,636,172)    (11,197,324)    (2,323,881)      (10,850,210)
   Annuity payments                                       (42,217)              -              -                 -
                                                 ------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 ------------------------------------------------------------------
Increase (decrease) in net assets from
   principal transactions                             303,544,037      44,580,836     12,741,674        36,612,373
                                                 ------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 ------------------------------------------------------------------
Total increase                                        482,085,607      71,130,627     18,489,279        51,620,723
                                                 ------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 ------------------------------------------------------------------
Net assets at December 31, 1997                     1,288,183,210     143,957,816     48,511,958       127,099,255
Increase (decrease) in net assets
Operations:
   Net investment income (loss)                        65,953,139       7,934,103      2,564,027         9,165,298
   Net realized gains (losses) on investments          12,416,637       2,390,605        109,943           612,459
   Change in net unrealized appreciation/
     depreciation of investments                       69,585,710      16,690,371      1,193,914         5,916,307
                                                 ------------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting
   from operations                                    147,955,486      27,015,079      3,867,884        15,694,064
Changes from principal transactions:
   Purchase payments, less sales charges, per
     payment fees and applicable premium taxes        880,179,184      89,426,487     20,700,753        75,135,480
   Contract terminations                              (82,987,332)     (7,493,332)    (2,607,601)       (7,275,303)
   Death benefit payments                              (6,720,662)       (574,590)      (356,750)         (782,491)
   Flexible withdrawal option payments                (13,530,855)     (1,052,669)      (647,508)       (2,009,052)
   Transfer payments to other contracts              (410,965,015)    (42,840,180)    (6,686,437)      (20,238,081)
   Annuity payments                                       (47,900)              -              -                 -
                                                 ------------------------------------------------------------------
Increase (decrease) in net assets from
   principal transactions                             365,927,420      37,465,716     10,402,457        44,830,553
                                                 ------------------------------------------------------------------
Total increase                                        513,882,906      64,480,795     14,270,341        60,524,617
                                                 ==================================================================
Net assets at December 31, 1998                    $1,802,066,116    $208,438,611    $62,782,299      $187,623,872
                                                 ==================================================================

* Commenced operations May 1, 1998.

See accompanying notes.
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                             Government
                                                                           Capital Value     Securities       Growth 
                                                         Bond Division       Division        Division        Division
                                                      ------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                      <C>              <C>              <C>            <C>
Net assets at January 1, 1997                            $ 51,156,727     $164,206,061     $ 80,421,152   $ 98,430,386  
Increase (decrease) in net assets                
Operations:                                      
   Net investment income                                    3,568,462       20,413,652        4,278,724      1,112,338  
   Net realized gains on investments                          110,974        2,848,843          274,681        452,453  
   Change in net unrealized appreciation/        
     depreciation of investments                            1,830,541       27,562,078        2,797,737     27,128,828  
                                                      ------------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase in net assets resulting from        
   operations                                               5,509,977       50,824,573        7,351,142     28,693,619  
Changes from principal transactions:
   Purchase payments, less sales charges, per                                                 
     payment fees and applicable premium taxes             29,283,340       88,457,676       25,613,735     53,502,269  
   Contract terminations                                   (2,130,683)     (18,056,258)      (5,656,444)    (4,866,079) 
   Death benefit payments                                    (265,662)        (501,663)        (615,089)      (543,121) 
   Flexible withdrawal option payments                       (880,841)        (965,075)      (1,128,199)      (731,944) 
   Transfer payments to other contracts                    (9,182,990)     (14,671,351)     (13,132,281)    (8,671,205) 
   Annuity payments                                                 -          (42,217)               -              -  
                                                      ------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                      ------------------------------------------------------------------
Increase (decrease) in net assets from           
   principal transactions                                  16,823,164       54,221,112        5,081,722     38,689,920  
                                                      ------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                      ------------------------------------------------------------------
Total increase                                             22,333,141      105,045,685       12,432,864     67,383,539  
                                                      ------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                      ------------------------------------------------------------------
Net assets at December 31, 1997                            73,489,868      269,251,746       92,854,016    165,813,925  
Increase (decrease) in net assets                
Operations:                                      
   Net investment income (loss)                             4,819,740       14,865,520        5,457,597      2,355,086  
   Net realized gains (losses) on investments                 256,093        3,370,612          519,217      2,312,393  
   Change in net unrealized appreciation/        
     depreciation of investments                              403,378       16,709,725        1,581,620     32,170,680  
                                                      ------------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting  
   from operations                                          5,479,211       34,945,857        7,558,434     36,838,159  
Changes from principal transactions:             
   Purchase payments, less sales charges, per    
     payment fees and applicable premium taxes             58,231,814      104,873,017       63,571,935     84,755,953  
   Contract terminations                                   (4,182,861)     (20,291,443)      (6,906,897)    (9,260,589) 
   Death benefit payments                                    (501,389)      (1,069,753)        (712,491)      (806,053) 
   Flexible withdrawal option payments                     (1,522,331)      (2,067,909)      (1,740,621)    (1,381,999) 
   Transfer payments to other contracts                   (14,012,541)     (27,234,001)     (17,983,933)   (22,495,558) 
   Annuity payments                                                 -          (47,900)               -              -  
                                                      ------------------------------------------------------------------
Increase (decrease) in net assets from           
   principal transactions                                  38,012,692       54,162,011       36,227,993     50,811,754  
                                                      ------------------------------------------------------------------
Total increase                                             43,491,903       89,107,868       43,786,427     87,649,913  
                                                      ------------------------------------------------------------------
Net assets at December 31, 1998                          $116,981,771     $358,359,614     $136,640,443   $253,463,838  
                                                      ==================================================================

* Commenced operations May 1, 1998.
                                                 
See accompanying notes.                          
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                   International
                                                   International       SmallCap
                                                     Divisional       Division*
                                                 -------------------------------
<S>                                                <C>                   <C>
Net assets at January 1, 1997                      $  70,528,972         $    -
Increase (decrease) in net assets                
Operations:                                      
   Net investment income                               4,371,904              -
   Net realized gains on investments                     495,943              -
   Change in net unrealized appreciation/        
     depreciation of investments                       2,593,492              -
                                                 -------------------------------
Net increase in net assets resulting from       
   operations                                          7,461,339              -
Changes from principal transactions:             
   Purchase payments, less sales charges, per    
     payment fees and applicable premium taxes        57,394,881              -
   Contract terminations                              (3,938,573)             -
   Death benefit payments                               (333,151)             -
   Flexible withdrawal option payments                  (438,591)             -
   Transfer payments to other contracts               (9,238,723)             -
   Annuity payments                                            -              -
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 -------------------------------
Increase (decrease) in net assets from
   principal transactions                             43,445,843              -
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 -------------------------------
Total increase                                        50,907,182
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 -------------------------------
Net assets at December 31, 1997                      121,436,154              -
Increase (decrease) in net assets                
Operations:                                      
   Net investment income (loss)                        5,420,947         (7,494)
   Net realized gains (losses) on investments          1,240,861        (34,310)
   Change in net unrealized appreciation/        
     depreciation of investments                       3,163,616        (43,412)
                                                 -------------------------------
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting  
   from operations                                     9,825,424        (85,216)
Changes from principal transactions:             
   Purchase payments, less sales charges, per    
     payment fees and applicable premium taxes        43,354,442      4,389,570
   Contract terminations                              (6,288,874)        (3,166)
   Death benefit payments                               (361,156)             -
   Flexible withdrawal option payments                  (842,431)        (8,380)
   Transfer payments to other contracts              (22,528,113)      (534,238)
   Annuity payments                                            -              -
                                                 -------------------------------
Increase (decrease) in net assets from           
   principal transactions                             13,333,868      3,843,786
                                                 -------------------------------
Total increase                                        23,159,292      3,758,570
                                                 -------------------------------
Net assets at December 31, 1998                     $144,595,446     $3,758,570
                                                 ===============================

* Commenced operations May 1, 1998.

See accompanying notes.                          

</TABLE>





                        Principal Life Insurance Company
                               Separate Account B

                 Statements of Changes in Net Assets (continued)



<TABLE>
<CAPTION> 
                                                                                          MidCap         Money
                                                     MicroCap          MidCap             Growth         Market
                                                    Division*         Division          Division*       Division
                                                 -----------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                  <C>             <C>              <C>              <C>
Net assets at January 1, 1997                                $       $122,287,543             $        $40,738,362
Increase (decrease) in net assets
Operations:
   Net investment income                                      -         3,233,729              -         1,545,123
   Net realized gains on investments                          -           507,365              -                 -
   Change in net unrealized appreciation/
     depreciation of investments                              -        26,108,957              -                 -
                                                 -----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 -----------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase in net assets resulting from                     -        29,850,051              -         1,545,123
   operations
Changes from principal transactions:
   Purchase payments, less sales charges, per
     payment fees and applicable premium taxes                -        71,186,197              -       172,161,862
   Contract terminations                                      -        (6,477,064)             -        (6,125,231)
   Death benefit payments                                     -          (451,603)             -          (189,873)
   Flexible withdrawal option payments                        -          (790,604)             -          (598,084)
   Transfer payments to other contracts                       -       (11,516,457)             -      (165,851,750)
   Annuity payments                                           -                 -              -                 -
                                                 -----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 -----------------------------------------------------------------
Increase (decrease) in net assets from
   principal transactions                                     -        51,950,469              -          (603,076)
                                                 ------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 ------------------------------------------------------------------
Total increase                                                -        81,800,520              -           942,047
                                                 ------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 ------------------------------------------------------------------
Net assets at December 31, 1997                               -       204,088,063              -        41,680,409
Increase (decrease) in net assets
Operations:
   Net investment income (loss)                          (1,807)       11,348,399        (13,725)        1,944,535
   Net realized gains (losses) on investments           (30,669)        1,666,097         (8,805)                -
   Change in net unrealized appreciation/
     depreciation of investments                        (79,471)       (9,573,159)       284,250                 -
                                                 ------------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting
   from operations                                     (111,947)        3,441,337        261,720         1,944,535
Changes from principal transactions:
   Purchase payments, less sales charges, per
     payment fees and applicable premium taxes        1,525,355        66,169,872      3,381,739       245,196,048
   Contract terminations                                (13,672)      (11,333,222)       (46,096)       (7,232,550)
   Death benefit payments                                     -          (893,824)             -          (658,257)
   Flexible withdrawal option payments                     (764)       (1,395,916)        (5,134)         (797,929)
   Transfer payments to other contracts                (252,998)      (27,342,936)      (203,258)     (206,535,244)
                                                 ------------------------------------------------------------------
Increase (decrease) in net assets from
   principal transactions                             1,257,921        25,203,974      3,127,251        29,972,068
                                                 ------------------------------------------------------------------
Total increase                                        1,145,974        28,645,311      3,388,971        31,916,603
                                                 ==================================================================
Net assets at December 31, 1998                      $1,145,974      $232,733,374     $3,388,971       $73,597,012
                                                 ==================================================================

* Commenced operations May 1, 1998.

See accompanying notes.
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                    SmallCap
                                                         Real Estate              SmallCap           Growth        SmallCap Value
                                                          Division*               Division*         Division*         Division*
                                                       ------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                    <C>                  <C>                <C>               <C>
Net assets at January 1, 1997                          $        -           $        -         $        -        $        -    
Increase (decrease) in net assets
Operations:                      
   Net investment income                                        -                    -                  -                 -    
   Net realized gains on investments                            -                    -                  -                 -    
   Change in net unrealized appreciation/
     depreciation of investments                                -                    -                  -                 -    
Net increase in net assets resulting from
   operations                                                   -                    -                  -                 -    
Changes from principal transactions:
   Purchase payments, less sales charges, per
     payment fees and applicable premium taxes                  -                    -                  -                 -    
   Contract terminations                                        -                    -                  -                 -    
   Death benefit payments                                       -                    -                  -                 -    
   Flexible withdrawal option payments                          -                    -                  -                 -    
   Transfer payments to other contracts                         -                    -                  -                 -    
   Annuity payments                                             -                    -                  -                 -    
                                                       ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Increase (decrease) in net assets from
   principal transactions                                       -                    -                  -                 -    
                                                       ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total increase                                                  -                    -                  -                 -    
                                                       ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net assets at December 31, 1997                                 -                    -                  -                 -    
Increase (decrease) in net assets
Operations:
   Net investment income (loss)                            44,944              (13,548)           (11,681)             (737)   
   Net realized gains (losses) on investments              (1,854)              (4,971)             1,417            (6,817)   
   Change in net unrealized appreciation/        
     depreciation of investments                          (45,204)             120,314            455,888            19,376    
                                                       ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting  
   from operations                                         (2,114)             101,795            445,624            11,822    
Changes from principal transactions:             
   Purchase payments, less sales charges, per    
     payment fees and applicable premium taxes          1,979,207            3,787,231          3,229,155         2,802,830    
   Contract terminations                                   (6,972)              (3,155)           (12,246)          (10,976)   
   Death benefit payments                                       -                    -             (3,908)                -    
   Flexible withdrawal option payments                     (4,598)              (9,905)            (1,997)           (9,311)   
   Transfer payments to other contracts                  (152,812)            (240,611)          (456,290)         (215,381)   
                                                       ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Increase (decrease) in net assets from           
   principal transactions                               1,814,825            3,533,560          2,754,714         2,567,162    
                                                       ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total increase                                          1,812,711            3,635,355          3,200,338         2,578,984    
                                                       ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net assets at December 31, 1998                        $1,812,711           $3,635,355         $3,200,338        $2,578,984    
                                                       ========================================================================

* Commenced operations May 1, 1998.

See accompanying notes.
</TABLE>


                                                             Utilities
                                                              Division*
                                                       -------------------

Net assets at January 1, 1997                              $        -
Increase (decrease) in net assets
Operations:                      
   Net investment income                                            -
   Net realized gains on investments                                -
   Change in net unrealized appreciation/
     depreciation of investments                                    -
Net increase in net assets resulting from
   operations                                                       -
Changes from principal transactions:
   Purchase payments, less sales charges, per
     payment fees and applicable premium taxes                      -
   Contract terminations                                            -
   Death benefit payments                                           -
   Flexible withdrawal option payments                              -
   Transfer payments to other contracts                             -
   Annuity payments                                                 -
                                                       -------------------
Increase (decrease) in net assets from
   principal transactions                                           -
                                                       -------------------
Total increase                                                      -
                                                       -------------------
Net assets at December 31, 1997                                     -
Increase (decrease) in net assets
Operations:
   Net investment income (loss)                                81,935
   Net realized gains (losses) on investments                  24,366
   Change in net unrealized appreciation/        
     depreciation of investments                              617,517
                                                       -------------------
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting  
   from operations                                            723,818
Changes from principal transactions:             
   Purchase payments, less sales charges, per    
     payment fees and applicable premium taxes              7,668,296
   Contract terminations                                      (18,377)
   Death benefit payments                                           -
   Flexible withdrawal option payments                        (32,401)
   Transfer payments to other contracts                    (1,012,403)
                                                       -------------------
Increase (decrease) in net assets from           
   principal transactions                                   6,605,115
                                                       -------------------
Total increase                                              7,328,933
                                                       -------------------
Net assets at December 31, 1998                            $7,328,933
                                                       ===================

* Commenced operations May 1, 1998.

See accompanying notes.


<PAGE>


                        Principal Life Insurance Company
                               Separate Account B
                          Notes to Financial Statements

                                December 31, 1998




1. Investment and Accounting Policies

Principal Life Insurance  Company Separate  Account B (Separate  Account B) is a
segregated  investment  account of Principal Life Insurance  Company  (Principal
Life,  formerly Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company) 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,  each  division of Separate  Account B invests  exclusively  in
shares  representing  interests  in a  corresponding  investment  option.  As of
December 31,  1998,  contractholder  investment  options  include the  following
accounts of Principal  Variable  Contracts  Fund,  Inc., a diversified  open-end
management  investment company,  organized by Principal Life:  Aggressive Growth
Account, Asset Allocation Account, Balanced Account, Bond Account, Capital Value
Account,  Government Securities Account, Growth Account,  International Account,
International SmallCap Account,  MicroCap Account, MidCap Account, MidCap Growth
Account, Money Market Account, Real Estate Account,  SmallCap Account,  SmallCap
Growth Account,  SmallCap Value Account, and Utilities Account.  Investments are
stated at the closing net asset values per share on December 31, 1998.

The Principal  Variable Contracts Fund, Inc. (the Fund) was formed on January 1,
1998.  Prior to that date,  the  accounts of the Fund were  reported as separate
mutual  funds.  This  reorganization  resulted  in  changes  to the names of the
following investment options:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
          Former Name                                   Name Subsequent to Reorganization
- --------------------------------------------            ---------------------------------
<S>                                                          <C>
Principal Aggressive Growth Fund, Inc.                       Aggressive Growth Account
Principal Asset Allocation Fund, Inc.                        Asset Allocation Account
Principal Balanced Fund, Inc.                                Balanced Account
Principal Bond Fund, Inc.                                    Bond Account
Principal Capital Accumulation Fund, Inc.                    Capital Accumulation Account
Principal Emerging Growth Fund, Inc.                         Emerging Growth Account
Principal Government Securities Fund, Inc.                   Government Securities Account
Principal Growth Fund, Inc.                                  Growth Account
Principal High Yield Fund, Inc.                              High Yield Account
Principal Money Market Fund, Inc.                            Money Market Account
Principal World Fund, Inc.                                   World Account


Effective  May 1,  1998,  the  following  names  within the  Principal  Variable
Contracts Fund, Inc. were changed:
</TABLE>


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
          Former Name                                            Name as Changed
- --------------------------------------------            ---------------------------------
<S>                                                          <C>
Capital Accumulation Account                                 Capital Value Account
Emerging Growth Account                                      MidCap Account
World Account                                                International Account
</TABLE>


                        Principal Life Insurance Company
                               Separate Account B

                    Notes to Financial Statements (continued)




1. Investment and Accounting Policies (continued)

On May 1, 1998,  Principal Life increased  contractholder  investment options to
include: Principal Variable Contracts Fund, Inc. International SmallCap Account,
MicroCap Account, MidCap Growth Account, Real Estate Account,  SmallCap Account,
SmallCap Growth Account, SmallCap Value Account and Utilities Account.

Contributions to the Personal Variable contracts are no longer accepted from new
customers, only from existing customers beginning January 1, 1998.

Effective July 1, 1998,  Principal  Mutual Life Insurance  Company (the Company)
formed  a  mutual  insurance  holding  company  and  converted  to a stock  life
insurance  company.  With the  conversion,  the  Company's  name was  changed to
Principal Life Insurance Company.

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.

Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Financial Statements

The preparation of Separate  Account B'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.


2. Expenses

Principal Life is compensated for the following expenses:

Bankers  Flexible  Annuity  Contracts - Mortality  and expense  risks assumed by
Principal Life 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 $35,161 and $1,092, respectively, during the year ended December 31,
1998.

Pension  Builder  Plus and  Pension  Builder  Plus - Rollover  IRA  Contracts  -
Mortality and expense risks assumed by Principal Life 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
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 $180,477,  $1,389, and
$58,703, respectively, during the year ended December 31, 1998.

Personal  Variable  Contracts - Mortality and expense risks assumed by Principal
Life are  compensated  for by a charge  equivalent to an annual rate of 0.64% of
the asset value of each contract.  A contingent  sales charge of up to 5% may be
deducted  from  withdrawals  from an investment  account  during the first seven
years from the date the first  contribution which relates to such participant is
accepted by Principal Life. 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 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 $170,640,  $46,976, and
$59,111, respectively, during the year ended December 31, 1998.

Premier  Variable  Contracts - Mortality  and expense risks assumed by Principal
Life are  compensated  for by a charge  equivalent to an annual rate of 0.42% 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 $722,455 and $16,533,  respectively,  during the year ended December
31,  1998.  There  were  no  contingent  sales  charges  provided  for in  these
contracts.

The  Principal  Variable  Annuity -  Mortality  and  expense  risks  assumed  by
Principal Life 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 Life 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  $16,587,426,   $1,549,335,  and  $416,630,
respectively, during the year ended December 31, 1998.


3. Federal Income Taxes

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


4. Purchases and Sales of Investment Securities

The aggregate units and cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of investments
were as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  Year ended December 31, 1998
                                            --------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 Units            Amount             Units              Amount
                                               Purchased         Purchased         Redeemed            Redeemed
                                            --------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                             <C>                <C>              <C>                 <C>          
   Aggressive Growth Division:
     The Principal Variable Annuity              3,499,221         $99,901,754       2,090,432          $54,501,935

   Asset Allocation Division:
     The Principal Variable Annuity              1,282,525          24,046,561         654,896           11,080,077

   Balanced Division:
     Personal Variable                           1,004,328           1,912,930         457,683              780,708
     Premier Variable                           10,422,806          19,013,537       6,268,556           10,551,964
     The Principal Variable Annuity              3,344,124          65,310,536       1,158,043           20,908,480
                                             --------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                14,771,258          86,237,003       7,884,282           32,241,152
   Bond Division:
     Personal Variable                             483,609             749,413         204,963              298,308
     Premier Variable                            3,340,901           5,252,870       1,335,734            1,947,955
     The Principal Variable Annuity              3,782,130          58,262,756       1,300,729           19,186,344
                                            --------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 7,606,640          64,265,039       2,841,426           21,432,607
   Capital Value Division:
     Bankers Flexible Annuity                            -             378,745          33,142            1,019,158
     Pension Builder Plus                           12,400             489,669         347,496            2,079,127
     Pension Builder - Rollover                     13,394             206,030          61,664              413,253
     Personal Variable                           1,028,159           3,098,635         706,659            1,805,819
     Premier Variable                            6,692,409          20,064,223       5,703,586           14,753,134
     The Principal Variable Annuity              3,851,690          99,320,683       1,451,484           34,459,963
                                             --------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                11,598,052         123,557,985       8,304,031           54,530,454
   Government Securities Division:
     Pension Builder Plus                            2,440              59,890         144,796              323,157
     Pension Builder - Rollover                      6,075              31,150          46,361              105,763
     Personal Variable                             533,981             932,430         395,901              592,463
     Premier Variable                            3,808,301           6,299,202       3,136,542            4,703,918
     The Principal Variable Annuity              4,224,663          63,176,336       1,616,290           23,088,117
                                            --------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 8,575,460          70,499,008       5,339,890           28,813,418

   Growth Division:
     Personal Variable                           1,056,605         $ 2,120,837         399,346          $   785,794
     Premier Variable                            9,492,310          19,278,673       4,562,959            9,075,786
     The Principal Variable Annuity              3,220,065          68,289,943       1,255,802           26,661,033
                                            --------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                13,768,980          89,689,453       6,218,107           36,522,613
   International Division:
     Personal Variable                             805,432           1,415,902         308,660              500,015
     Premier Variable                            4,733,201           8,515,990       2,974,704            4,950,251
     The Principal Variable Annuity              2,153,106          40,571,261       1,603,148           26,298,072
                                            --------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 7,691,739          50,503,153       4,886,512           31,748,338
   International SmallCap Division:
     The Principal Variable Annuity                483,237           4,399,364          64,583              563,072

   MicroCap Division:
     The Principal Variable Annuity                175,619           1,530,140          34,250              274,026

   MidCap Division:
     Personal Variable                             879,026           1,880,837         439,232              851,883
     Premier Variable                            5,642,259          12,250,222       2,973,492            5,798,868
     The Principal Variable Annuity              2,793,284          66,291,200       1,875,347           37,219,135
                                            --------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 9,314,569          80,422,259       5,288,071           43,869,886
   MidCap Growth Division:
     The Principal Variable Annuity                381,976           3,381,739          29,954              268,213

   Money Market Division:
     Pension Builder Plus                           53,479             135,725         102,745              203,381
     Pension Builder - Rollover                      1,336               3,925           6,405               13,015
     Personal Variable                           3,575,718           4,528,715       3,302,133            4,121,381
     Premier Variable                           48,477,115          61,598,188      45,123,308           56,876,964
     The Principal Variable Annuity             15,337,299         181,640,592      13,184,712          154,775,801
                                            --------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                67,444,947         247,907,145      61,719,303          215,990,542
   Real Estate Division:
     The Principal Variable Annuity                213,750           2,032,472          18,315              172,703

   SmallCap Division:
     The Principal Variable Annuity                 492,217        $  3,787,569          33,678         $    267,557

   SmallCap Growth Division:
     The Principal Variable Annuity                 368,419           3,229,155          53,999              486,122

   SmallCap Value Division:
     The Principal Variable Annuity                 334,867           2,812,751          29,295              246,326

   Utilities Division:
     The Principal Variable Annuity                 741,204           7,775,696         101,905            1,088,646
                                            ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            ===========================================================================
                                                148,744,680        $965,978,246     105,592,929         $534,097,687
                                            ===========================================================================

</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  Year ended December 31, 1997
                                            --------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 Units            Amount             Units              Amount
                                               Purchased         Purchased         Redeemed            Redeemed
                                            --------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                             <C>                <C>              <C>                 <C>          
   Aggressive Growth Division:
     The Principal Variable Annuity              2,866,842         $ 78,258,746         760,825         $  16,802,497

   Asset Allocation Division:
     The Principal Variable Annuity              1,151,186           22,167,226         281,079             4,486,322

   Balanced Division:
     Personal Variable                           1,121,294            1,881,609         362,119               541,564
     Premier Variable                            6,824,153           11,562,751       3,674,287             5,395,069
     The Principal Variable Annuity              2,815,600           51,420,018         759,885            12,371,661
                                            ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                10,761,047           64,864,378       4,796,291            18,308,294
   Bond Division:
     Personal Variable                             345,135              485,073         132,143               174,058
     Premier Variable                            2,547,619            3,651,845       1,151,236             1,516,914
     The Principal Variable Annuity              2,004,124           29,486,187         858,968            11,540,507
                                            ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 4,896,878           33,623,105       2,142,347            13,231,479
   Capital Value Division:
     Bankers Flexible Annuity                            -              683,529          29,544               773,974
     Pension Builder Plus                           68,140            1,235,130       1,982,927             8,819,318
     Pension Builder Plus - Rollover IRA             1,995              221,006         181,779               925,026
     Personal Variable                           1,387,651            3,539,847         858,885             1,776,616
     Premier Variable                            8,035,489           21,108,357       4,658,141             9,954,051
     The Principal Variable Annuity              3,744,285           84,607,543         691,613            14,511,663
                                            ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                13,237,560          111,395,412       8,402,889            36,760,648

   Government Securities Division:
     Pension Builder Plus                             23,169       $     118,925        570,707         $   1,099,325
     Pension Builder Plus - Rollover IRA
                                                         617              24,244        208,339               426,973
     Personal Variable                               633,713             990,854        754,202             1,021,076
     Premier Variable                              2,966,089           4,655,507      2,792,797             3,804,557
     The Principal Variable Annuity                1,669,224          25,164,798      1,166,357            15,241,951
                                            --------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    5,292,812          30,954,328      5,492,402            21,593,882
   Growth Division:
     Personal Variable                             1,072,567           1,734,898        311,356               500,397
     Premier Variable                              7,226,323          11,858,111      2,587,048             4,197,408
     The Principal Variable Annuity                2,442,934          42,661,389        633,196            11,754,335
                                            --------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  10,741,824          56,254,398      3,531,600            16,452,140
   International Division:
     Personal Variable                               759,933           1,208,340        233,106               354,907
     Premier Variable                              5,217,093           8,423,719      1,831,269             2,787,221
     The Principal Variable Annuity                3,256,925          53,417,398        738,451            12,089,582
                                            --------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   9,233,951          63,049,457      2,802,826            15,231,710
   MidCap Division:
     Personal Variable                              979,972            1,752,787        332,091               581,993
     Premier Variable                             6,044,928           10,752,356      2,231,491             3,852,324
     The Principal Variable Annuity               3,406,355           64,056,027        870,634            16,942,655
                                            --------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 10,431,255           76,561,170      3,434,216            21,376,972
   Money Market Division:
     Pension Builder Plus                            285,405             558,229        456,641               845,039
     Pension Builder Plus - Rollover IRA
                                                       2,628               7,254         13,813                27,122
     Personal Variable                             6,785,344           8,146,664      6,570,220             7,839,434
     Premier Variable                             32,145,080          39,119,749     31,009,540            37,413,932
     The Principal Variable Annuity               11,093,609         126,422,118     11,270,301           127,186,440
                                            --------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  50,312,066         174,254,014     49,320,515           173,311,967
                                            --------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 118,925,421        $711,382,234     80,964,990          $337,555,911
                                            ==========================================================================
</TABLE>

Purchases include reinvested dividends and capital gains.  Mortality adjustments
are included in purchases and redemptions, as applicable.

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 Life Insurance Company
                               Separate Account B

                    Notes to Financial Statements (continued)




5. Net Assets

Net assets at December 31, 1998 consisted of the following:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                   Net Unrealized
                                                                                   Accumulated     Appreciation
                                                                      Unit         Net Investment  (Depreciation)
                                                 Combined          Transactions      Income         of Investments
                                           ----------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                         <C>                <C>               <C>              <C>            
   Aggressive Growth Division:
     The Principal Variable Annuity         $   208,438,611    $  154,950,165    $ 23,317,094     $30,171,352

   Asset Allocation Division:
     The Principal Variable Annuity              62,782,299        52,071,898       8,162,072       2,548,329

   Balanced Division:
     Personal Variable                            4,109,836         3,683,235         176,085         250,516
     Premier Variable                            26,396,964        23,899,032       1,049,822       1,448,110
     The Principal Variable Annuity             157,117,072       128,451,709      17,319,404      11,345,959
                                           ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                187,623,872       156,033,976      18,545,311      13,044,585
   Bond Division:
     Personal Variable                            1,126,185         1,087,120          38,350             715
     Premier Variable                             8,926,784         8,466,508         345,446         114,830
     The Principal Variable Annuity             106,928,802        96,980,945       8,230,375       1,717,482
                                           ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                116,981,771       106,534,573       8,614,171       1,833,027
   Capital Value Division:
     Bankers Flexible Annuity                     7,106,302         4,287,364         302,409       2,516,529
     Pension Builder Plus                         7,572,342         5,238,165         203,355       2,130,822
     Pension Builder Plus - Rollover IRA          2,265,332         1,545,362          77,147         642,823
     Personal Variable                            9,982,371         7,863,505         364,464       1,754,402
     Premier Variable                            60,046,505        46,288,705       2,283,433      11,474,367
     The Principal Variable Annuity             271,386,762       202,044,892      31,732,323      37,609,547
                                           ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                358,359,614       267,267,993      34,963,131      56,128,490
   Government Securities Division:
     Pension Builder Plus                         1,061,229           972,846          24,160          64,223
     Pension Builder Plus - Rollover IRA            348,924           320,834          10,126          17,964
     Personal Variable                            2,973,074         2,765,554         103,654         103,866
     Premier Variable                            12,899,067        12,039,838         443,589         415,640
     The Principal Variable Annuity             119,358,149       106,682,124       9,336,917       3,339,108
                                           ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                136,640,443       122,781,196       9,918,446       3,940,801
   Growth Division:
     Personal Variable                            4,744,796         3,647,573          44,149       1,053,074
     Premier Variable                            35,121,256        27,146,937         433,857       7,540,462
     The Principal Variable Annuity             213,597,786       148,732,392       3,108,640      61,756,754
                                           ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                253,463,838       179,526,902       3,586,646      70,350,290

   International Division:
     Personal Variable                      $     2,488,857    $    2,290,386    $     84,381     $   114,090
     Premier Variable                            15,699,547        14,099,541         531,420       1,068,586
     The Principal Variable Annuity             126,407,042       103,577,125       7,764,905      15,065,012
                                           ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                144,595,446       119,967,052       8,380,706      16,247,688
   International SmallCap Division
     The Principal Variable Annuity               3,758,570         3,808,226          (6,244)        (43,412)

   MicroCap Division
     The Principal Variable Annuity               1,145,974         1,226,493          (1,048)        (79,471)

   MidCap Division:
     Personal Variable                            3,685,468         3,250,816         155,802         278,850
     Premier Variable                            23,677,140        20,357,568       1,066,985       2,252,587
     The Principal Variable Annuity             205,370,766       161,654,058      12,351,483      31,365,225
                                           ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                232,733,374       185,262,442      13,574,270      33,896,662
   MidCap Growth Division
     The Principal Variable Annuity               3,388,971         3,115,968         (11,247)        284,250

   Money Market Division:
     Pension Builder Plus                           723,423           704,183          19,240               -
     Pension Builder Plus - Rollover IRA             21,829            21,296             533               -
     Personal Variable                            1,695,975         1,678,764          17,211               -
     Premier Variable                            12,764,651        12,678,626          86,025               -
     The Principal Variable Annuity              58,391,134        57,893,036         498,098               -
                                           ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 73,597,012        72,975,905         621,107               -
   Real Estate Division:
     The Principal Variable Annuity               1,812,711         1,816,371          41,544          (45,204)

   SmallCap Division:
     The Principal Variable Annuity               3,635,355         3,527,366         (12,325)         120,314

   SmallCap Growth Division
     The Principal Variable Annuity               3,200,338         2,753,982          (9,532)         455,888

   SmallCap Value Division
     The Principal Variable Annuity               2,578,984         2,559,859            (251)          19,376

   Utilities Division
     The Principal Variable Annuity               7,328,933         6,639,682          71,734          617,517
                                           ======================================================================
                                            $1,802,066,116     $1,442,820,049    $129,755,585     $229,490,482
                                           ======================================================================
</TABLE>

<PAGE>



                        Principal Life Insurance Company
                               Separate Account B

                    Notes to Financial Statements (continued)




6. Year 2000 Issues (Unaudited)

Like  other  investment   funds,   financial  and  business   organizations  and
individuals around the world,  Separate Account B could be adversely affected if
the computer  systems used by Principal Life and other service  providers do not
properly process and calculate date-related  information and data from and after
January 1, 2000.  In 1995,  Principal  Life began  investigating  the  potential
impact of the Year  2000 on its  systems,  procedures,  customers  and  business
processes.  The  Year  2000  assessment  that  was  completed  in 1996  provided
information used to determine what system components must be changed or replaced
to minimize the impact of the calendar change from 1999 to 2000.

Principal  Life will continue to use internal and external  resources to modify,
replace  and test  its  systems.  Management  estimates  100% of the  identified
modifications   to  mission   critical   systems  and  99%  of  the   identified
modifications  to other  systems have been  completed for its Year 2000 project.
The project  completion is scheduled to occur prior to any anticipated impact on
Principal Life's operations.

Principal  Life and  Separate  Account  B face the risk  that one or more of its
critical  suppliers or customers  (external  relationships)  will not be able to
interact  with them due to the third  party's  inability to resolve its own Year
2000  issues.   Principal   Life  has   completed   its  inventory  of  external
relationships  and is attempting to determine the overall Year 2000 readiness of
its external  relationships.  Principal Life is engaged in discussions  with the
third parties and is requesting information as to those parties' Year 2000 plans
and  state of  readiness.  Principal  Life,  however,  does not have  sufficient
information  at the  current  time  to  predict  whether  all  of  its  external
relationships will be Year 2000 ready.

While  Principal  Life believes  that it has  addressed its Year 2000  concerns,
Principal Life has begun to develop contingency/recovery plans aimed at ensuring
the continuity of critical business  functions before, on and after December 31,
1999. Principal Life expects  contingency/recovery  planning to be substantially
complete  by April 1, 1999.  The Year 2000  contingency  plans will be  reviewed
periodically throughout 1999 and revised as needed.  Principal Life believes its
Year 2000  contingency  plans  coupled with  existing  "disaster  recovery"  and
"business resumption" plans minimize the impact Year 2000 issues may have on the
organization.


                         Report of Independent Auditors




The Board of Directors
Principal Life Insurance Company


We have audited the accompanying  consolidated  statements of financial position
of Principal  Life  Insurance  Company (the  Company,  an indirect  wholly-owned
subsidiary of Principal Mutual Holding Company),  formerly Principal Mutual Life
Insurance  Company,   as  of  December  31,  1998  and  1997,  and  the  related
consolidated  statements of operations,  stockholder's equity and cash flows for
each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1998.  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 consolidated  financial  position of Principal Life
Insurance Company at December 31, 1998 and 1997, and the consolidated results of
its  operations  and its cash  flows for each of the three  years in the  period
ended  December 31, 1998,  in  conformity  with  generally  accepted  accounting
principles.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Des Moines, Iowa
January 29, 1999




                        Principal Life Insurance Company

                      Consolidated Statements of Operations




                                              Year ended December 31
                                         1998          1997          1996
                                        ---------------------------------------
                                                   (In Millions)
Revenue
Premiums and annuity and other 
     considerations                      $3,409        $4,668        $5,121
Policy and contract charges                 780           682           572
Net investment income                     2,821         2,948         2,905
Net realized capital gains                  466           176           388
Commissions and other income                208           199           150
Contribution from the closed block           13             -             -
                                        ---------------------------------------
Total revenue                             7,697         8,673         9,136

Expenses
Benefits, claims and settlement 
     expenses                             4,777         5,632         6,087
Dividends to policyholders                  155           299           299
Operating expenses                        2,026         2,047         1,920
                                        ---------------------------------------
                                        ---------------------------------------
Total expenses                            6,958         7,978         8,306
                                        ---------------------------------------

Income before income taxes                  739           695           830

Income taxes                                 44           241           304
                                        ---------------------------------------
                                        =======================================
Net income                              $   695       $   454       $   526
                                        =======================================



See accompanying notes.


<PAGE>


                        Principal Life Insurance Company

                  Consolidated Statements of Financial Position




                                                   December 31
                                                1998         1997
                                            ---------------------------
                                            ---------------------------
                                                  (In Millions)

Assets
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale           $21,006      $21,546
Equity securities, available-for-sale            1,102        1,273
Mortgage loans                                  12,091       13,286
Real estate                                      2,691        2,632
Policy loans                                        25          749
Other investments                                  349          130
Cash and cash equivalents                          461          546
Accrued investment income                          375          457
Deferred policy acquisition costs                  456        1,057
Property held for Company use                      246          232
Closed block assets                              4,251            -
Separate account assets                         29,009       23,627
Other assets                                     1,881        1,519
                                            ---------------------------
                                            ===========================
Total assets                                   $73,943      $67,054
                                            ===========================
                                            ===========================

Liabilities
Contractholder funds                           $23,339      $23,179
Future policy benefits and claims                7,082       11,239
Other policyholder funds                           249          314
Policyholder dividends payable                      44          444
Debt                                               671          459
Income taxes currently payable                      27          298
Deferred income taxes                              497          803
Closed block liabilities                         5,299            -
Separate account liabilities                    29,009       23,560
Other liabilities                                2,257        1,474
                                            ---------------------------
                                            ---------------------------
Total liabilities                               68,474       61,770

Stockholder's equity
Common stock, par value $1 per share - authorized  5,000,000 shares,  issued and
   outstanding 2,500,000 shares (wholly owned indirectly by Principal Mutual
   Holding Company)                                             3            -
Retained earnings                                           4,749        4,257
Accumulated other comprehensive income:
   Net unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities      746        1,038
   Net foreign currency translation adjustment                (29)         (11)
                                                         -----------------------
                                                         -----------------------
Total stockholder's equity                                  5,469        5,284
                                                         -----------------------
                                                         =======================
Total liabilities and stockholder's equity                $73,943      $67,054
                                                         =======================


See accompanying notes.


<PAGE>


                        Principal Life Insurance Company

                 Consolidated Statements of Stockholder's Equity


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                    Net Unrealized     Net Foreign
                                                                       Gains on         Currency          Total
                                            Common     Retained   Available-for-Sale   Translation    Stockholder's
                                             Stock     Earnings       Securities       Adjustment         Equity
                                          ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                         (In Millions)

<S>                                          <C>        <C>              <C>               <C>            <C>   
   Balances at January 1, 1996               $ -        $3,277           $1,336            $ (7)          $4,606
   Comprehensive income:
     Net income                                -           526                -               -              526
     Decrease in unrealized appreciation
       on fixed maturities,                    -             -             (543)              -             (543)
       available-for-sale
     Decrease in unrealized appreciation
       on equity securities,                   -             -             (262)              -             (262)
       available-for-sale
     Adjustments for assumed changes in 
          amortization patterns:
       Deferred policy acquisition costs       -             -               83               -               83
       Unearned revenue reserves               -             -              (11)              -              (11)
     Provision for deferred income tax         -             -              257               -              257
       benefit
     Change in net foreign currency
       translation adjustment                  -             -                -              (2)              (2)
                                                                                                          ------------
   Comprehensive income                        -                                                              48
                                          ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Balances at December 31, 1996               -         3,803              860              (9)           4,654
   Comprehensive income:
     Net income                                -           454                -               -              454
     Increase in unrealized appreciation
       on fixed maturities,                    -             -              197               -              197
       available-for-sale
     Increase in unrealized appreciation
       on equity securities,                   -             -              118               -              118
       available-for-sale
     Adjustments for assumed changes in
       amortization patterns:                  -
       Deferred policy acquisition costs       -             -              (44)              -              (44)
       Unearned revenue reserves               -             -                4               -                4
     Provision for deferred income taxes       -             -              (97)              -              (97)
     Change in net foreign currency
       translation adjustment                  -             -                -              (2)              (2)
                                                                                                          ------------
   Comprehensive income                                                                                      630
                                          ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Balances at December 31, 1997               -         4,257            1,038             (11)           5,284
</TABLE>



<PAGE>


                        Principal Life Insurance Company

           Consolidated Statements of Stockholder's Equity (continued)



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                    Net Unrealized       Net Foreign
                                                                       Gains on           Currency            Total
                                            Common     Retained   Available-for-Sale     Translation      Stockholder's
                                             Stock     Earnings       Securities         Adjustment          Equity
                                          -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                          (In Millions)

<S>                                          <C>        <C>              <C>                 <C>               <C>   
   Balances at January 1, 1998               $ -        $4,257           $1,038              $(11)             $5,284
   Comprehensive income:
     Net income                                -           695               -                  -                 695
     Decrease in unrealized appreciation
       on fixed maturities,                    -             -            (203)                 -                (203)
       available-for-sale
     Decrease in unrealized appreciation
       on equity securities,
       available-for-sale, including
       seed money in separate accounts         -             -            (292)                 -                (292)
     Adjustments for assumed changes in
       amortization patterns:
       Deferred policy acquisition costs       -             -              37                  -                  37
       Unearned revenue reserves               -             -              (4)                 -                  (4)
     Provision for deferred income tax         -             -             170                  -                 170
       benefit
     Change in net foreign currency
       translation adjustment                  -             -               -                (18)                (18)
     Issuance of 2,500,000 shares of
       common stock to parent holding          3            (3)              -                  -                   -
       company
     Dividend to parent holding company        -          (200)              -                  -                (200)
                                                                                                               ----------
   Comprehensive income                                                                                           185
                                          ===============================================================================
   Balances at December 31, 1998             $ 3        $4,749            $746               $(29)             $5,469
                                          ===============================================================================


See accompanying notes.
</TABLE>

<PAGE>


                        Principal Life Insurance Company

                      Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                              Year ended December 31
                                                                          1998         1997         1996
                                                                      ---------------------------------------
                                                                                  (In Millions)
<S>                                                                   <C>            <C>         <C>      
Operating activities
Net income                                                            $     695      $   454     $     526
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by
   operating activities:
   Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs                        114          170           178
   Additions to deferred policy acquisition costs                          (173)        (213)         (215)
   Gain on sales of subsidiaries                                             (6)         (14)            -
   Accrued investment income                                                 24            7            15
   Contractholder and policyholder liabilities and dividends
                                                                          1,538        1,401         1,667
   Current and deferred income taxes                                       (265)          96            20
   Net realized capital gains                                              (466)        (176)         (388)
   Depreciation and amortization expense                                    133          117           112
   Other                                                                   (197)        (403)         (253)
   Change in closed block operating assets and
     liabilities, net                                                       230            -             -
                                                                      ---------------------------------------
                                                                      ---------------------------------------
Net adjustments                                                             932          985         1,136
                                                                      ---------------------------------------
Net cash provided by operating activities                                 1,627        1,439         1,662

Investing activities Available-for-sale securities:
   Purchases                                                             (7,141)      (7,478)      (11,876)
   Sales                                                                  5,684        7,475         9,089
   Maturities                                                             1,377        1,204         2,796
Mortgage loans acquired or originated                                   (14,162)      (9,925)       (2,955)
Mortgage loans sold or repaid                                            14,414        8,977         1,619
Real estate acquired                                                       (436)        (309)         (166)
Real estate sold                                                            662          198           253
Proceeds from sales of subsidiaries                                          96           35             -
Purchases of interest in subsidiaries, net of cash acquired                (218)         (99)          (51)
Net change in policy loans                                                  (12)         (13)          (25)
Net change in property held for Company use                                 (57)         (11)          (18)
Net change in other investments                                            (270)         (68)          (74)
Change in closed block investments, net                                    (201)           -             -
                                                                      ---------------------------------------
Net cash used in investing activities                                      (264)         (14)       (1,408)

</TABLE>


<PAGE>


                        Principal Life Insurance Company

                Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (continued)


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                              Year ended December 31
                                                                          1998         1997         1996
                                                                      ---------------------------------------
                                                                                  (In Millions)
<S>                                                                    <C>           <C>        <C> 
Financing activities
Issuance of debt                                                       $     243     $     75   $       43
Principal repayments of debt                                                 (51)         (28)         (29)
Proceeds of short-term borrowings                                          8,628        5,089        1,451
Repayment of short-term borrowings                                        (8,924)      (4,974)      (1,282)
Dividend paid to parent holding company                                     (140)           -            -
Investment contract deposits                                               5,854        4,134        4,221
Investment contract withdrawals                                           (7,058)      (5,446)      (4,682)
                                                                      ---------------------------------------
Net cash used in financing activities                                     (1,448)      (1,150)        (278)
                                                                      ---------------------------------------

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents                         (85)         275          (24)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year                               546          271          295
                                                                      =======================================
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year                               $     461      $   546    $     271
                                                                      =======================================
</TABLE>

Schedule of noncash  operating and investing  activities  The following  noncash
assets and liabilities were transferred to the
   Closed  Block  as a  result  of the  July  1,  1998  mutual  holding  company
   formation:
   Operating activities:
     Accrued investment income                   $      59
     Deferred policy acquisition costs                 697
     Other assets                                       12
     Future policy benefits and claims              (4,545)
     Other policyholder funds                           (7)
     Policyholder dividends payable                   (388)
     Other liabilities                                (173)
                                                 ------------
   Total noncash operating activities (4,345) Investing activities:
     Fixed maturities, available-for-sale            1,562
     Mortgage loans                                  1,027
     Policy loans                                      736
     Other investments                                   1
                                                 ------------
   Total noncash investing activities                3,326
                                                 ============
   Total noncash operating and investing activities $(1,019)
                                                 =============

Net transfer of noncash assets and liabilities of Principal Health
   Care Inc. on April 1, 1998 in exchange for common shares of
   Coventry Health Care, Inc.                      $   (160)
                                                 =============


See accompanying notes.


<PAGE>


                        Principal Life Insurance Company

                   Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

                                December 31, 1998




1. Nature of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies

Reorganization

Effective July 1, 1998,  Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company formed a mutual
insurance holding company  (Principal Mutual Holding Company) and converted to a
stock life insurance  company  (Principal  Life Insurance  Company).  All of the
shares  of  Principal  Life  Insurance  Company  (the  Company)  were  issued to
Principal Mutual Holding Company through two newly formed  intermediate  holding
companies,  Principal  Financial Group, Inc. and Principal  Financial  Services,
Inc. The  reorganization  itself did not have a material financial impact on the
Company.

Description of Business

The Company is a  diversified  financial  services  organization  engaged in the
marketing and management of life insurance,  annuity,  health, pension and other
financial products and services, primarily in the United States.

Basis of Presentation

The  accompanying  consolidated  financial  statements  of the  Company  and its
majority-owned  subsidiaries  have been  prepared in conformity  with  generally
accepted  accounting  principles (GAAP).  Less than  majority-owned  entities in
which the Company has at least a 20%  interest  are reported on the equity basis
in the consolidated  statements of financial position as other investments.  All
significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

Total assets of the unconsolidated entities amounted to $2.2 billion at December
31,  1998  and  $1.1  billion  at  December  31,  1997.  Total  revenues  of the
unconsolidated entities were $1.8 billion in 1998, $294 million in 1997 and $349
million in 1996.  During 1998, 1997 and 1996, the Company  included $18 million,
$19  million  and  $(3)  million,   respectively,   in  net  investment   income
representing  the  Company's  share of  current  year net  income  (loss) of the
unconsolidated entities.

Closed Block

In conjunction with the formation of the mutual insurance  holding company,  the
Company  established  a Closed  Block for the  benefit  of  certain  classes  of
individual participating and dividend-paying policies in force on that date. The
Closed Block was designed to provide reasonable assurance to owners of insurance
policies  included  therein  that,  after the  reorganization,  assets  would be
available to maintain the  aggregate  dividend  scales in effect for 1997 if the
experience underlying such scales continued. Assets were allocated to the Closed
Block in amounts  which,  together with  premiums from policies  included in the
Closed  Block,  were  reasonably  expected  to be  sufficient  to  support  such
policies,  including provisions for payment of claims, certain expenses, charges
and  taxes,  and for  continuation  of  dividend  scales  payable in 1997 in the
aggregate, assuming the experience underlying such scales continued.

Assets  allocated  to the Closed  Block inure to the  benefits of the holders of
policies  included in the Closed Block.  Closed Block assets and liabilities are
carried on the same basis as similar assets and liabilities held by the Company.

The contribution to the operating income of the Company from the Closed Block is
reported  as a single line item in the  statement  of  operations.  Accordingly,
premiums,  net investment income,  realized capital gains (losses),  policyowner
benefits and dividends  attributable to the Closed Block,  less certain expenses
and charges and the amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs, are shown
as a net number  under the caption  "Contribution  from the Closed  Block." This
results in material  reductions in the respective line items in the statement of
operations  while  having no effect on net income.  All assets  allocated to the
Closed Block are grouped  together and shown as a separate item entitled "Closed
Block assets"; and all liabilities attributable to the Closed Block are combined
and  disclosed  as the "Closed  Block  liabilities."  The excess of Closed Block
liabilities  over Closed Block assets  represents the expected  future  post-tax
contribution  from the Closed Block which would be recognized in income over the
period the policies and contracts in the Closed Block remain in force.

The   Contribution   from  the  Closed  Block  does  not   represent  the  total
profitability attributable to the policies included in the Closed Block. Certain
expenses  attributable  to  the  policies  included  in  the  Closed  Block  and
commissions on these policies are not included in the reported Contribution from
the Closed Block, but rather are included in operating expenses  consistent with
the initial  regulatory  funding of the Closed Block.  Consequently,  the assets
needed to fund the  Closed  Block are less  than the  total  accumulated  assets
attributable to the policies included in the Closed Block.  Income on the assets
held  outside of the Closed Block is included in net  investment  income and not
included in the Contribution from the Closed Block.

Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Financial Statements

The  preparation  of  the  Company's   consolidated   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  consolidated  financial  statements  and
accompanying notes.

Significant Risks

The following is a description of the most significant risks facing  diversified
financial service organizations and how the Company mitigates those risks:

Legal or  regulatory  risk is the risk that  changes in the legal or  regulatory
environment  in which an insurer  operates will create  additional  expenses not
anticipated by the insurer in pricing its products.  The Company  mitigates this
risk by offering a wide range of products and  operating  throughout  the United
States  and the world,  thus  reducing  its  exposure  to any single  product or
jurisdiction,  and also by employing  underwriting  practices which identify and
minimize the adverse impact of this risk.

Credit  risk is the risk that  issuers  of  securities  owned by the  Company or
borrowers  through  mortgage  loans on real  estate  will  default or that other
parties that owe the Company  money,  will not pay. The Company  minimizes  this
risk by adhering to a conservative  investment  strategy,  by maintaining  sound
credit  and  collection  policies  and  by  providing  for  any  amounts  deemed
uncollectible.

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

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash  equivalents  include cash on hand,  money market  instruments and
other debt issues with a maturity date of three months or less when purchased.

Investments

Investments  in  fixed  maturities  and  equity  securities  are  classified  as
available-for-sale and, accordingly, are carried at fair value. (See Note 12 for
policies  related  to the  determination  of fair  value.)  The  cost  of  fixed
maturities  is adjusted for  amortization  of premiums and accrual of discounts,
both computed using the interest method. The cost of fixed maturities and equity
securities is adjusted for declines in value that are other than temporary.  For
the loan-backed and structured  securities  included in the bond portfolio,  the
Company  recognizes  income using a constant  effective yield based on currently
anticipated  prepayments  as  determined  by  broker-dealer  surveys or internal
estimates and the estimated lives of the securities.

Real estate investments are reported at cost less accumulated depreciation.  The
initial cost bases of  properties  acquired  through loan  foreclosures  are the
lower of the loan balances or fair market  values of the  properties at the time
of foreclosure. Buildings and land improvements are generally depreciated on the
straight-line method over the estimated useful life of improvements,  and tenant
improvement costs are depreciated on the  straight-line  method over the term of
the related lease. The Company  recognizes  impairment losses for its properties
when indicators of impairment are present and a property's expected undiscounted
cash flows are not sufficient to recover the property's  carrying value. In such
cases,  the cost bases of the  properties are reduced  accordingly.  Real estate
expected to be disposed is carried at the lower of cost or fair value, less cost
to sell, with valuation allowances  established  accordingly and depreciation no
longer recognized. Any impairment losses and any changes in valuation allowances
are reported as net realized capital losses.

Commercial  and  residential  mortgage  loans are reported at cost  adjusted for
amortization  of premiums and accrual of discounts,  computed using the interest
method, and net of valuation allowances. Any changes in the valuation allowances
are  reported as net  realized  capital  gains  (losses).  The Company  measures
impairment based upon the present value of expected cash flows discounted at the
loan's effective  interest rate. If foreclosure is probable,  the measurement of
any  valuation  allowance  is based upon the fair value of the  collateral.  The
Company includes  residential mortgage loans held for sale in the amount of $802
million and $512 million at December 31, 1998 and 1997, respectively,  which are
carried at lower of cost or fair value and  reported  as  mortgage  loans in the
statements of financial position.

Net realized  capital gains and losses on investments  are determined  using the
specific identification basis.

Policy loans and other investments are primarily reported at cost.

Derivatives

Derivatives are generally held for purposes other than trading and are primarily
used to hedge or reduce  exposure to interest  rate and foreign  currency  risks
associated with assets held or expected to be purchased or sold, and liabilities
incurred or  expected  to be  incurred.  Additionally,  derivatives  are used to
change the characteristics of the Company's  asset/liability mix consistent with
the Company's risk management activities.

The  Company's  use of  derivatives  is  further  described  in Note 4.  The net
interest  effect of interest rate and currency swap  transactions is recorded as
an adjustment to net investment income or interest expense, as appropriate, over
the periods covered by the agreements. The cost of other derivative contracts is
amortized over the life of the contracts and classified  with the results of the
underlying  hedged item.  Certain contracts are designated as hedges of specific
assets and, to the extent those assets are marked to market, the hedge contracts
are also marked to market and included as an adjustment of the underlying  asset
value.  Other  contracts are  designated  and accounted for as hedges of certain
liabilities and are not marked to market.

Hedge  accounting is used for derivatives  that are  specifically  designated in
advance as hedges and that reduce the Company's exposure to an indicated risk by
having a high  correlation  between  changes in the value of the derivatives and
the items being  hedged at both the  inception of the hedge and  throughout  the
hedge  period.  Should such criteria not be met or if the hedged items are sold,
terminated or matured,  the changes in value of the  derivatives are included in
net income.

Contractholder and Policyholder Liabilities

Contractholder and policyholder liabilities (contractholder funds, future policy
benefits  and  claims  and  other  policyholder   funds)  include  reserves  for
investment   contracts  and  reserves  for  universal  life,   limited  payment,
participating and traditional life insurance policies.  Investment contracts are
contractholders'  funds  on  deposit  with the  Company  and  generally  include
reserves for pension and annuity contracts. Reserves on investment contracts are
equal to the  cumulative  deposits  less any  applicable  charges plus  credited
interest.

Reserves for universal life insurance contracts are equal to cumulative premiums
less charges plus credited  interest which  represents the account balances that
accrue to the benefit of the policyowners.  Reserves for non-participating  term
life insurance  contracts are computed on a basis of assumed  investment  yield,
mortality,  morbidity and expenses, including a provision for adverse deviation,
which  generally  vary by plan,  year of issue and policy  duration.  Investment
yield is based on the Company's experience.  Mortality, morbidity and withdrawal
rate  assumptions  are based on experience  of the Company and are  periodically
reviewed against both industry standards and experience.

Reserves for participating  life insurance  contracts are based on the net level
premium reserve for death and endowment policy benefits.  This net level premium
reserve is calculated  based on dividend fund interest rate and mortality  rates
guaranteed in calculating the cash surrender values described in the contract.

Some of the Company's  policies and contracts require payment of fees in advance
for services that will be rendered over the estimated  lives of the policies and
contracts.  These  payments are  established as unearned  revenue  reserves upon
receipt and included in other policyowner  funds in the consolidated  statements
of  financial  position.  These  unearned  revenue  reserves  are  amortized  to
operations over the estimated lives of these policies and contracts.

The  liability  for unpaid  accident  and health  claims is an  estimate  of the
ultimate  net cost of  reported  and  unreported  losses not yet  settled.  This
liability  is estimated  using  actuarial  analyses and case basis  evaluations.
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 Premiums, Fees and Benefits

Traditional individual life and health insurance products include those products
with fixed and  guaranteed  premiums and benefits,  and consist  principally  of
whole life and term life insurance policies and certain immediate annuities with
life  contingencies.  Premiums  from these  products are  recognized  as premium
revenue when due.

Group life and health  insurance  premiums  are  generally  recorded  as premium
revenue over the term of the coverage.  Some group  contracts allow for premiums
to be  adjusted to reflect  emerging  experience.  Such  adjusted  premiums  are
recognized in the period that the related experience emerges. Fees for contracts
providing claim  processing or other  administrative  services are recorded over
the period the service is provided.

Related  policy  benefits and expenses for  individual and group life and health
insurance  products  are  associated  with  earned  premiums  and  result in the
recognition of profits over the expected lives of the policies and contracts.

Universal  life-type  policies are insurance  contracts  with terms that are not
fixed and  guaranteed.  Amounts  received as payments for such contracts are not
reported  as  premium  revenues.  Revenues  for  universal  life-type  insurance
contracts consist of policy charges for the cost of insurance, policy initiation
and  administration,  surrender  charges and other fees that have been  assessed
against policy account  values.  Policy  benefits and claims that are charged to
expense  include  interest  credited to contracts and benefit claims incurred in
the period in excess of related policy account balances.

Investment   contracts  do  not  subject  the  Company  to  risks  arising  from
policyowner  mortality  or  morbidity,   and  consist  primarily  of  Guaranteed
Investment Contracts (GICs) and certain deferred annuities.  Amounts received as
payments  for  investment  contracts  are  established  as  investment  contract
liability  balances  and are not  reported  as premium  revenues.  Revenues  for
investment  contracts  consist of  investment  income and policy  administration
charges.  Investment  contract  benefits  that are  charged to  expense  include
benefit claims incurred in the period in excess of related  investment  contract
liability  balances  and  interest  credited to  investment  contract  liability
balances.

Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs

Commissions and other costs  (underwriting,  issuance and agency  expenses) that
vary  with and are  primarily  related  to the  acquisition  of new and  renewal
insurance  policies and  investment  contract  business are  capitalized  to the
extent  recoverable.  Acquisition  costs that are not deferrable and maintenance
costs are charged to operations as incurred.

Deferred policy acquisition costs for universal  life-type  insurance  contracts
and  participating  life insurance  policies and investment  contracts are being
amortized  over the lives of the  policies  and  contracts  in  relation  to the
emergence  of estimated  gross profit  margins.  This  amortization  is adjusted
retrospectively when estimates of current or future gross profits and margins to
be realized  from a group of products and  contracts  are revised.  The deferred
policy acquisition costs of  non-participating  term life insurance policies are
being  amortized over the  premium-paying  period of the related  policies using
assumptions consistent with those used in computing policyowner liabilities.

Deferred policy  acquisition costs are subject to recoverability  testing at the
time of policy issue and loss recognition  testing at the end of each accounting
period.  Deferred  policy  acquisition  costs would be written off to the extent
that it is determined that future policy premiums and investment income or gross
profit margins would not be adequate to cover related losses and expenses.

Reinsurance

The Company  enters into  reinsurance  agreements  with other  companies  in the
normal  course of  business.  The  Company may assume  reinsurance  from or cede
reinsurance  to other  companies.  Premiums  and  expenses  are  reported net of
reinsurance   ceded.  The  Company  is  contingently   liable  with  respect  to
reinsurance  ceded to other  companies  in the event the  reinsurer is unable to
meet the obligations it has assumed.

Guaranty-fund Assessments

Guaranty-fund  assessments are accrued when the Company  receives notice that an
amount is payable to a guaranty fund.  The Company also accrues for  anticipated
assessments  which are  estimated  using data  available  from various  industry
sources that  monitor the current  status of open and closed  insolvencies.  The
Company  has also  established  an other  asset for  assessments  expected to be
recovered through future premium tax offsets.

Separate Accounts

The  separate  account  assets and  liabilities  presented  in the  consolidated
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.  Generally,  the separate account contract owner,
rather than the Company,  bears the investment risk of these funds. The separate
account  assets are legally  segregated and are not subject to claims that arise
out of any  other  business  of the  Company.  The  Company  receives  a fee for
administrative, maintenance and investment advisory services that is included in
the consolidated  statements of operations.  Deposits, net investment income and
realized and  unrealized  capital gains and losses on the separate  accounts are
not reflected in the consolidated statements of operations.

Income Taxes

Principal  Mutual Holding  Company files a  consolidated  income tax return that
includes the Company and 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.  Current
income taxes are charged or credited to operations based upon amounts  estimated
to be payable or recoverable  as a result of taxable  operations for the current
year.  Deferred  income  taxes are  provided  for the tax  effect  of  temporary
differences  in the  financial  reporting  and  income  tax bases of assets  and
liabilities  and net operating  losses using enacted  income tax rates and laws.
The effect on deferred tax assets and deferred  tax  liabilities  of a change in
tax rates is  recognized  in  operations  in the  period in which the  change is
enacted.

Foreign Exchange

The  Company's  foreign  subsidiaries'  statements  of  financial  position  and
operations  are translated at the current  exchange  rates and average  exchange
rates for the year, respectively.  Resulting translation adjustments for foreign
subsidiaries  and certain  other  transactions  are  reported as a component  of
equity.  Other  translation  adjustments for foreign currency  transactions that
affect cash flows are reported in current operations.

Pension and Postretirement Benefits

The Company accounts for its pension benefits and postretirement  benefits other
than pension (medical, life insurance and long-term care) using the full accrual
method.

Property Held for Company Use

Property  held for  Company use  includes  home  office  properties  and related
leasehold  improvements.   Property  held  for  Company  use  is  shown  in  the
consolidated  statements  of  financial  position  at cost less  allowances  for
accumulated  depreciation.  Provisions  for  depreciation  of property  held for
Company  use are  computed  principally  on the  straight-line  method  over the
estimated useful lives of the assets.  Property held for Company use and related
accumulated depreciation are as follows (in millions):

                                                          December 31
                                                      1998           1997
                                                  -----------------------------

   Property held for Company use                        $328          $302
   Accumulated depreciation                              (82)          (70)
                                                  =============================
   Property held for Company use, net                   $246          $232
                                                  =============================

Other Assets

Intangible assets are included in other assets in the consolidated statements of
financial  position.  The cost of  acquired  subsidiaries  in excess of the fair
value of the net assets (i.e.,  goodwill) and other intangible  assets have been
recorded in  connection  with  acquisitions.  These  assets are  amortized  on a
straight-line  basis  generally  over 10 to 15  years.  The  carrying  amount of
goodwill and other intangible assets is reviewed  periodically for indicators of
impairment in value.

Intangible  assets and  related  accumulated  amortization  are as  follows  (in
millions):

                                                         December 31
                                                     1998          1997
                                                  ---------------------------

      Goodwill                                        $185          $165
      Accumulated amortization                         (40)          (16)
                                                  ---------------------------
      Goodwill, net                                    145           149

      Other intangible assets, net                      16            74
                                                  ---------------------------

      Total intangible assets                         $161          $223
                                                  ===========================

Mortgage  servicing rights of $778 million and $432 million at December 31, 1998
and  1997,  respectively,  are  included  in other  assets  in the  consolidated
statements  of  financial  position  and  represent  the cost of  purchasing  or
originating the right to service mortgage loans. These costs are capitalized and
amortized to operations  over the estimated  remaining  lives of the  underlying
loans using the interest method and taking into account  appropriate  prepayment
assumptions. Capitalized mortgage servicing rights are periodically assessed for
impairment,  which is  recognized in the  consolidated  statements of operations
during the period in which  impairment  occurs by  establishing a  corresponding
valuation allowance.

Other assets are reported primarily at cost.

Pooled Investment Fund

The Company has an arrangement  whereby short-term funds of Principal  Financial
Services,  Inc. are pooled with funds of the Company's subsidiaries and invested
by the Company.  The Company credits  Principal  Financial  Services,  Inc. with
interest  approximating  the yield earned by the Company's  Separate Account LI,
which invests in commercial  paper.  At December 31, 1998, the Company  reported
$137  million in other  liabilities  in the  statements  of  financial  position
related to this arrangement with Principal Financial Services, Inc.

The  Company's  pooled  funds are also made  available  to  Principal  Financial
Services,  Inc.  for  short-term  borrowings  up to $1  million,  with  interest
approximating  the yield  earned by Separate  Account LI. At December  31, 1998,
there were no such borrowings outstanding under this arrangement.

Comprehensive Income

On January 1, 1998,  the  Company  adopted  Statement  of  Financial  Accounting
Standards No. 130,  Reporting  Comprehensive  Income ("SFAS 130"),  and restated
prior years' financial statements to conform to the reporting standard. SFAS 130
establishes standards for reporting and displaying  comprehensive income and its
components in a full set of general-purpose financial statements.  Comprehensive
income  includes all changes in equity  during a period  except those  resulting
from investments by shareholders and distributions to shareholders. The adoption
of SFAS No. 130 resulted in revised and additional disclosures but had no effect
on the financial position, results of operations, or liquidity of the Company.

Other comprehensive income excludes net realized capital gains (losses) included
in net income of $344 million in 1998,  $113 million in 1997 and $256 million in
1996.  These amounts are net of income taxes and  adjustments to deferred policy
acquisition  costs and unearned  revenue  reserves of $122 million in 1998,  $63
million in 1997 and $132 million in 1996.

Reclassifications

Certain  reclassifications  have  been  made to the 1996  and 1997  consolidated
financial statements to conform to the 1998 presentation.

Pending Accounting Change

In June 1998,  the  Financial  Accounting  Standards  Board (the "FASB")  issued
Statement No. 133, Accounting for Derivative  Instruments and Hedging Activities
("SFAS 133"),  which the Company is required to adopt January 1, 2000.  SFAS 133
will  require  the  Company to  include  all  derivatives  in the  statement  of
financial position at fair value.  Changes in derivative fair values will either
be  recognized  in  earnings  as offsets to the changes in fair value of related
hedged assets, liabilities and firm commitments or, for forecasted transactions,
deferred and  recorded as a component  of equity  until the hedged  transactions
occur and are  recognized  in  earnings.  The  ineffective  portion of a hedging
derivative's  change in fair value will be  immediately  recognized in earnings.
The impact of SFAS 133 on the Company's  financial  statements  will depend on a
variety of factors,  including future  interpretive  guidance from the FASB, the
future level of forecasted and actual foreign currency transactions,  the extent
of the Company's hedging  activities,  the types of hedging instruments used and
the effectiveness of such instruments. However, the Company does not believe the
effect of adopting SFAS 133 will be material to its financial position.


2. Mergers, Acquisitions and Divestitures

Effective  April 1, 1998,  the Company merged  substantially  all of its managed
care operations  with Coventry  Corporation in exchange for a share of ownership
in the resulting  entity,  Coventry  Health Care, Inc. At December 31, 1998, the
Company held a 42% share of Coventry Health Care, Inc. The Company's  investment
in Coventry  Health Care,  Inc. is accounted  for using the equity  method.  Net
equity  of  the  transferred  business  on  April  1,  1998  was  $170  million.
Consolidated  financial  results for 1997 included  total assets at December 31,
1997,   and  total  revenues  and  pretax  loss  for  the  year  then  ended  of
approximately $419 million,  $883 million and $(26) million,  respectively,  for
the transferred business.

During 1998,  various  acquisitions  were made by the Company's  subsidiaries at
purchase prices  aggregating $224 million.  The acquisitions  were all accounted
for using the  purchase  method and the results of  operations  of the  acquired
businesses  have been included in the financial  statements of the  subsidiaries
from the dates of  acquisition.  Such  acquired  companies  had total  assets at
December  31,  1998 and total 1998  revenue  of $459  million  and $58  million,
respectively.

During  1998,  various  divestitures  were  made  by  certain  of the  Company's
subsidiaries at selling prices  aggregating  $118 million and $15 million in net
realized capital gains were realized as a result of these divestitures. In 1997,
the  financial  statements  included  $152  million in assets,  $206  million in
revenues and $20 million of pretax losses related to these subsidiaries.

Beginning in 1998, the Company did not renew medical business in 14 states where
it does not believe it can effectively  compete.  The Company continues to offer
non-medical coverage and administrative  services only products in these states.
Annual medical premium in these states was approximately $230 million in 1997.

During  1997,  various  acquisitions  were  made  by  certain  of the  Company's
subsidiaries at purchase prices aggregating $101 million.  The acquisitions were
all accounted for using the purchase method and the results of operations of the
acquired  businesses  have been  included  in the  financial  statements  of the
subsidiaries  from the dates of acquisition.  Such acquired  companies had total
assets at  December  31,  1997 and total 1997  revenue of $459  million  and $86
million, respectively.

During 1997, the Company  terminated a portion of its group medical business and
helped   insureds   find   replacement   coverage.   The  Company  has  retained
responsibility  for the payment of claims incurred on this business prior to the
effective date of the  termination  and has included an estimate of the ultimate
liability for these claims in its financial statements.  Annual premiums related
to this business were approximately $380 million at date of transfer.


3. Investments

Under  SFAS No.  115,  Accounting  for  Certain  Investments  in Debt and Equity
Securities,   securities   are  generally   classified  as   available-for-sale,
held-to-maturity,  or  trading.  The  Company has  classified  its entire  fixed
maturities  portfolio  as  available-for-sale,  although  it  is  generally  the
Company's  intent to hold these  securities  to  maturity.  The Company has also
classified all equity securities as available-for-sale. Securities classified as
available-for-sale are reported at fair value in the consolidated  statements of
financial  position with the related unrealized holding gains and losses on such
available-for-sale  securities  reported as a separate component of equity after
adjustments for related changes in deferred policy acquisition  costs,  unearned
revenue reserves and deferred income taxes.

The cost,  gross  unrealized gains and losses and fair value of fixed maturities
and equity securities  available-for-sale  as of December 31, 1998 and 1997, are
as follows (in millions):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                   Gross           Gross
                                                                Unrealized      Unrealized         Fair
                                                   Cost            Gains          Losses          Value
                                              ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                              ---------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                <C>            <C>              <C>             <C>       
   December 31, 1998 Fixed maturities:
     United States Government and agencies
                                                   $   611        $    -           $  10           $   601
     Foreign governments                                57            21               1                77
     States and political subdivisions                 428            19               4               443
     Corporate - public                              4,470           264              88             4,646
     Corporate - private                            11,935           653              97            12,491
     Mortgage-backed securities                      2,661            92               5             2,748
                                              ---------------------------------------------------------------
   Total fixed maturities                          $20,162        $1,049            $205           $21,006
                                              ===============================================================
   Total equity securities                         $   760        $  395           $  53           $ 1,102
                                              ===============================================================

   December 31, 1997 Fixed maturities:
     United States Government and agencies
                                                   $   337        $    1           $   -           $   338
     Foreign governments                               217             -               -               217
     States and political subdivisions                 232            15               2               245
     Corporate - public                              4,014           224              18             4,220
     Corporate - private                            12,478           856              30            13,304
     Mortgage-backed securities                      3,124            99               3             3,220
                                              ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                              ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    20,402         1,195              53            21,544
     Redeemable preferred stocks                         2             -               -                 2
                                              ===============================================================
   Total fixed maturities                          $20,404        $1,195           $  53           $21,546
                                              ===============================================================
   Total equity securities                         $   639        $  664           $  30           $ 1,273
                                              ===============================================================

</TABLE>

The cost and fair value of fixed maturities  available-for-sale  at December 31,
1998, by expected maturity, are as follows (in millions):

                                                        Cost        Fair Value
                                                      --------------------------
                                                      --------------------------

   Due in one year or less                            $  1,043        $  1,061
   Due after one year through five years                 6,922           7,012
   Due after five years through ten years                5,283           5,590
   Due after ten years                                   4,234           4,577
                                                      --------------------------
                                                      --------------------------
                                                        17,482          18,240
   Mortgage-backed and other securities without
     a single maturity date                              2,680           2,766
                                                      --------------------------
                                                      ==========================
   Total                                               $20,162         $21,006
                                                      ==========================

The above summarized activity is based on expected maturities. Actual maturities
may differ because borrowers may have the right to call or pre-pay obligations.

Major  categories  of net  investment  income  are  summarized  as  follows  (in
millions):

                                                 Year ended December 31
                                            1998          1997          1996
                                           ------------------------------------

   Fixed maturities, available-for-sale     $1,525        $1,620        $1,649
   Equity securities, available-for-sale        32            39            33
   Mortgage loans                            1,171         1,150         1,085
   Real estate                                 525           501           486
   Policy loans                                 27            50            49
   Cash and cash equivalents                     9             9            15
   Other                                        49            92            48
                                           ------------------------------------
                                           ------------------------------------
                                             3,338         3,461         3,365

   Less investment expenses                   (517)         (513)         (460)
                                           ------------------------------------
                                           ====================================
   Net investment income                    $2,821        $2,948        $2,905
                                           ====================================


The major  components of net realized  capital gains (losses) on investments are
summarized as follows (in millions):

                                                  Year ended December 31
                                            1998          1997           1996
                                            ----------------------------------

   Fixed maturities, available-for-sale:
     Gross gains                             $ 67          $ 51          $ 80
     Gross losses                             (31)          (43)          (73)
   Equity securities, available-for-sale:
     Gross gains                              329           132           451
     Gross losses                             (40)          (26)           (5)
   Mortgage loans                               8            (6)          (11)
   Real estate                                126            64            14
   Other                                        7             4           (68)
                                            ==================================
   Net realized capital gains                $466          $176          $388
                                            ==================================

Proceeds from sales of  investments  (excluding  call and maturity  proceeds) in
fixed maturities were $2.8 billion,  $5.0 billion and $7.8 billion in 1998, 1997
and 1996 respectively.  Of the 1998, 1997 and 1996 proceeds,  $2.2 billion, $4.0
billion  and $7.2  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 $23 million,  $29 million
and $64 million and gross  losses of $7 million,  $10 million and $53 million in
1998,  1997 and 1996,  respectively,  were realized on sales of  mortgage-backed
securities.  At December 31, 1998,  the Company had security  purchases  payable
totaling $576 million relating to the purchases of mortgage-backed securities at
forward dates.

Prior to 1996, 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. The equity swaps were terminated during 1996 and
a  realized  loss  of $81  million  recorded.  Common  stocks  of  $633  million
associated  with these  equity  swaps were sold  during  1996 and a gain of $402
million recorded, resulting in a net realized gain of $321 million.

The  unrealized  appreciation  on  investments  in fixed  maturities  and equity
securities  available-for-sale  is reported as a separate  component  of equity,
reduced by adjustments to deferred policy acquisition costs and unearned revenue
reserves that would have been  required as a charge or credit to operations  had
such  amounts been  realized and a provision  for  deferred  income  taxes.  The
cumulative  amount of net  unrealized  gains on  available-for-sale  securities,
including  the net  unrealized  gains  on the  Closed  Block  available-for-sale
securities, is as follows (in millions):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                      December 31
                                                                                  1998           1997
                                                                              -----------------------------

<S>                                                                                <C>         <C>   
   Unrealized appreciation on fixed maturities, available-for-sale                 $939        $1,142
   Unrealized appreciation on equity securities, available-for-sale,
     including seed money in separate accounts                                      347           639
   Adjustments for assumed changes in amortization patterns:
     Deferred policy acquisition costs                                             (167)         (204)
     Unearned revenue reserves                                                       17            21
   Provision for deferred income taxes                                             (390)         (560)
                                                                              =============================
   Net unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities                           $746        $1,038
                                                                              =============================
</TABLE>

The  1998   decrease   in   unrealized   appreciation   on   fixed   maturities,
available-for-sale,  includes the effect of a change in the method of estimating
the fair value of  certain  corporate  bonds,  net of  related  adjustments  for
assumed  changes in  amortization  patterns and deferred  income taxes,  of $116
million.

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, 1998 and 1997, the commercial  mortgage portfolio is diversified by
geographic region and specific collateral property type as follows:

                       Geographic Distribution        Property Type Distribution
                             December 31                        December 31

                           1998        1997                    1998       1997
                        ----------------------             --------------------
                        ----------------------             --------------------

   Pacific                 28%         28%          Industrial   33%        33%
   South Atlantic          24          24           Retail       33         33
   North Central           15          16           Office       29         29
   Mid Atlantic            14          14           Other         5          5
   South Central            9           9
   New England              5           5
   Mountain                 5           4

Mortgage  loans on real estate are considered  impaired  when,  based on current
information  and  events,  it is  probable  that the  Company  will be unable to
collect all amounts due according to  contractual  terms of the loan  agreement.
When the Company  determines  that a loan is impaired,  a provision  for loss is
established for the difference  between the carrying amount of the mortgage loan
and the estimated value. Estimated value is based on either the present value of
the expected future cash flows discounted at the loan's effective interest rate,
the  loan's  observable  market  price  or fair  value  of the  collateral.  The
provision for losses is reported as a net realized capital loss.

Mortgage loans deemed to be uncollectible  are charged against the allowance for
losses and subsequent  recoveries are credited to the allowance for losses.  The
allowance for losses is maintained at a level believed adequate by management to
absorb estimated probable credit losses. Management's periodic evaluation of the
adequacy of the allowance  for losses is based on the  Company's  past loan loss
experience,  known and inherent risks in the portfolio,  adverse situations that
may  affect  the  borrower's  ability  to  repay,  the  estimated  value  of the
underlying  collateral,  composition  of the loan  portfolio,  current  economic
conditions and other relevant factors.  The evaluation is inherently  subjective
as it requires  estimating  the amounts and timing of future cash flows expected
to be received on impaired loans that may change.

A summary of the changes in the mortgage loan allowance for losses is as follows
(in millions):

                                                  December 31
                                         1998        1997        1996
                                      ------------------------------------

   Balance at beginning of year           $121        $121        $115
   Provision for losses                      4           8          16
   Releases due to write-downs, 
     sales and foreclosures                (12)         (8)        (10)
                                      ====================================
   Balance at end of year                 $113        $121        $121
                                      ====================================

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.

The Company was servicing approximately 484,000 and 371,000 residential mortgage
loans with aggregate principal balances of approximately $42.1 billion and $29.1
billion at December 31, 1998 and 1997,  respectively.  In connection  with these
mortgage  servicing  activities,  the  Company  held  funds in trust for  others
totaling  approximately  $284  million and $210 million at December 31, 1998 and
1997, respectively.  In connection with its loan administration  activities, the
Company  advances  payments of property  taxes and  insurance  premiums and also
advances  principal and interest  payments to investors in advance of collecting
funds from specific mortgagors.  In addition, the Company makes certain payments
of attorney fees and other costs related to loans in foreclosure.  These amounts
receivable  are  recorded,  at cost,  as  advances on  serviced  loans.  Amounts
advanced  are  considered  in  management's  evaluation  of the  adequacy of the
mortgage loan allowance for losses.

Real estate  holdings and related  accumulated  depreciation  are as follows (in
millions):

                                                  December 31
                                              1998           1997
                                          -----------------------------

   Properties held for sale                   $1,043       $   360
   Investment real estate                      2,007         2,625
                                          -----------------------------
                                               3,050         2,985
   Accumulated depreciation                     (359)         (353)
                                          =============================
   Real estate, net                           $2,691        $2,632
                                          =============================

Other  investments  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 $0.9  billion  and $1.2  billion at
December 31, 1998 and 1997, respectively.  The Company is committed to providing
additional mortgage financing for such joint ventures aggregating $85 million at
December 31, 1998.


4. 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  contracts ($140 million at
December 31, 1998, and $36 million at December 31, 1997) represent the extent of
the Company's  involvement  but not the risk of loss. The Company had no forward
contracts at December 31, 1998 and 1997.

The  Company  enters  into  interest  rate swaps to  minimize  its  exposure  to
fluctuations in interest rates. Swaps are used in asset and liability management
to modify duration and match cash flows. The notional  principal  amounts of the
swaps  outstanding  at December  31, 1998 and 1997,  were $1.6  billion and $1.0
billion, respectively, and the credit exposure at December 31, 1998 and 1997 was
$19 million and $21 million, respectively. The Company is exposed to credit loss
in the  event of  nonperformance  of the  counterparties.  This  credit  risk is
minimized  by  purchasing  such  agreements  from  financial  institutions  with
superior  performance records. 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 six years
at both December 31, 1998 and 1997.  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.

The Company  manages  risk on its mortgage  loan  pipeline by buying and selling
mortgage-backed  securities in the forward markets,  over-the-counter options on
mortgage-backed  securities,  U. S.  Treasury  futures  contracts and options on
Treasury futures contracts.  The Company entered into mandatory forward,  option
and futures contracts  totaling  approximately  $2.4 billion and $1.2 billion at
December  31,  1998 and  1997,  respectively,  to reduce  interest  rate risk on
certain  mortgage  loans  held for  sale  and  other  commitments.  The  forward
contracts provide for the delivery of securities at a specified future date at a
specified  price or yield.  In the event the  counterparty is unable to meet its
contractual  obligations,  the  Company  may be  exposed  to the risk of selling
mortgage loans at prevailing  market prices.  The effect of these  contracts was
considered in the lower of cost or market calculation of mortgage loans held for
sale.

The Company has  committed  to  originate  approximately  $1.1  billion and $612
million of mortgage loans at December 31, 1998 and 1997,  respectively,  subject
to borrowers meeting the Company's  underwriting  guidelines.  These commitments
call for the Company to fund such loans at a future  date with a specified  rate
at a specified  price.  Because the  borrowers  are not  obligated  to close the
loans, the Company is exposed to risks that it may not have sufficient  mortgage
loans  to  deliver  to its  mandatory  forward  contracts  and,  thus,  would be
obligated to purchase  mortgage  loans at  prevailing  market rates to meet such
commitments. Conversely, the Company is exposed to the risk that more loans than
expected will close, and the loans would then be sold at current market prices.

The  Company  uses  interest  rate floors and  options on futures  contracts  in
hedging a portion of its portfolio of mortgage  servicing rights from prepayment
risk  associated  with changes in interest  rates.  The Company had entered into
interest rate floor and option  contracts  with a notional value of $6.3 billion
and $3.1  billion at December  31, 1998 and 1997,  respectively.  The floors and
contracts  provide  for the receipt of payments  when  interest  rates are below
predetermined interest rate levels. The premiums paid for floors are included in
other assets in the Company's consolidated statements of financial position.

The Company  enters into currency  exchange swap  agreements to convert  certain
foreign  denominated  fixed rate assets into U.S. dollar  denominated fixed rate
assets  and  eliminate  the  exposure  to future  currency  volatility  on those
securities.  At December  31,  1998,  the Company had various  foreign  currency
exchange agreements with maturities ranging from 1999 to 2018, with an aggregate
notional amount involved of  approximately  $486 million and the credit exposure
was $35 million.  At December 31, 1997, such maturities ranged from 1998 to 2018
with an aggregate  notional  amount of  approximately  $410 million and a credit
exposure  of  $17  million.   The  average  unexpired  term  of  the  swaps  was
approximately seven years at both December 31, 1998 and 1997.


5. Closed Block

Summarized financial information of the Closed Block as of and for the six-month
period from formation to December 31, 1998, is as follows (in millions):

   Assets
   Fixed maturities, available-for-sale                            $1,722
   Mortgage loans                                                   1,063
   Policy loans                                                       741
   Other investments                                                    1
   Accrued investment income                                           60
   Deferred policy acquisition costs                                  649
   Other assets                                                        15
                                                                ===========
                                                                   $4,251
                                                                ===========

   Liabilities
   Future policy benefits and claims                               $4,668
   Other policyholder funds                                             6
   Policyholder dividends payable                                     393
   Other liabilities                                                  232
                                                                ===========
                                                                   $5,299
                                                                ===========

   Revenues and expenses
   Premiums                                                       $   390
   Net investment income                                              127
   Other income                                                         1
   Benefits, claims and settlement expenses                          (306)
   Dividends to policyholders                                        (143)
   Operating expenses                                                 (56)
                                                                ===========
   Contribution from the Closed Block (before income taxes)      $     13
                                                                ===========


6. Accident and Health Reserves

Activity  in the  liability  for unpaid  accident  and health  claims,  which is
included with future policy benefits and claims in the  consolidated  statements
of financial position, is summarized as follows (in millions):
                                                  Year ended December 31
                                            1998          1997          1996
                                           ------------------------------------

   Balance at beginning of year            $   770       $   800       $   810

   Incurred:
     Current year                            1,922         2,723         3,051
     Prior years                               (14)          (21)          (29)
                                           ------------------------------------
                                           ------------------------------------
   Total incurred                            1,908         2,702         3,022

   Reclassification for subsidiary merger
     (see Note 2)                              155             -             -
   Payments:
     Current year                            1,523         2,235         2,535
     Prior years                               359           497           497
                                           ------------------------------------
   Total payments                            2,037         2,732         3,032
                                           ------------------------------------

   Balance at end of year:
     Current year                              349           476           516
     Prior years                               292           294           284
                                           ------------------------------------
                                           ====================================
   Total balance at end of year            $   641       $   770       $   800
                                           ====================================

The activity  summary in the  liability  for unpaid  accident and health  claims
shows a decrease of $14 million, $21 million and $29 million to the December 31,
1997,   1996  and  1995  liability  for  unpaid   accident  and  health  claims,
respectively, arising in prior years. Such liability adjustments, which affected
current  operations  during 1998,  1997 and 1996,  respectively,  resulted  from
developed  claims for prior years being different than were anticipated when the
liabilities  for unpaid  accident and health claims were  originally  estimated.
These trends have been considered in establishing the current year liability for
unpaid accident and health claims.


7. Debt

The  components  of debt as of December  31, 1998 and  December  31, 1997 are as
follows (in millions):

                                                          December 31
                                                     1998           1997
                                                 ------------------------------

      7.875% notes payable, due 2024                  $199          $199
      8% notes payable, due 2044                        99            99
      Mortgages and other notes payable                373           161
                                                 ==============================
      Total debt                                      $671          $459
                                                 ==============================

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 notes. The discount and direct
costs  associated  with issuing these notes are being  amortized to expense over
their respective  terms using the interest method.  Each payment of interest and
principal on the notes, however, 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 each of the years ended December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996, interest
of $24 million was approved by the Commissioner, paid and charged to expense.

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.

In addition,  subject to Commissioner  approval, the 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
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.

The  mortgages  and  other  notes  payable  are   financings   for  real  estate
developments.  The Company has obtained  loans with  various  lenders to finance
these developments. Outstanding principal balances as of December 31, 1998 range
from $1 million to $39.1 million per  development  with interest rates generally
ranging  from 6.6% to 9.3%.  Outstanding  principal  balances as of December 31,
1997 range from $1 million to $10.7 million per development  with interest rates
generally ranging from 6.6% to 8.0%.

At  December  31,  1998,  future  annual  maturities  of debt are as follows (in
millions):

   1999                                       $150
   2000                                          9
   2001                                          8
   2002                                          8
   2003                                          9
   Thereafter                                  487
                                           ----------
                                           ==========
   Total future maturities of debt            $671
                                           ==========

Cash paid for interest for 1998, 1997 and 1996 was $97 million,  $67 million and
$79 million, respectively.

The  Company  issues  commercial  paper  periodically  to  meet  its  short-term
financing needs and also has credit  facilities with various banks.  The Company
had outstanding  credit  borrowings of $200 million and $225 million at December
31, 1998 and 1997,  respectively.  These outstanding  borrowings are included in
other liabilities in the consolidated statements of financial position.


8. Income Taxes

The Company's income tax expense (benefit) is as follows (in millions):

                                        Year ended December 31
                                  1998          1997          1996
                                 ---------------------------------------
   Current income taxes:
     Federal                      $ (80)          $144          $145
     State and foreign               10              3            (1)
     Net realized capital gains     107             11           210
                                 ---------------------------------------
   Total current income taxes        37            158           354
   Deferred income taxes              7             83           (50)
                                 =======================================
   Total income taxes               $44           $241          $304
                                 =======================================



The Company's provision for income taxes may not have the customary relationship
of taxes to income. Differences between the prevailing corporate income tax rate
of 35% times the pre-tax income and the Company's  effective tax rate on pre-tax
income are generally due to inherent  differences  between  income for financial
reporting  purposes  and  income  for tax  purposes,  and the  establishment  of
adequate  provisions  for any  challenges of the tax filings and tax payments to
the various taxing jurisdictions.  A reconciliation between the corporate income
tax rate and the effective tax rate is as follows (in millions):
                                                 Year ended December 31
                                            1998          1997          1996
                                           -----------------------------------

   Statutory corporate tax rate              35%           35%           35%
   Dividends received deduction              (4)           (2)           (1)
   Interest exclusion from taxable income    (1)           (1)           (1)
   Resolution of prior year tax issues      (20)            -             -
   Other                                     (4)            3             4
                                           -----------------------------------
   Effective tax rate                         6%           35%           37%
                                           ===================================

Significant components of the Company's net deferred income taxes are as follows
   (in millions):
                                                                 December 31
                                                             1998       1997
                                                            -------------------
   Deferred income tax assets (liabilities):
     Insurance liabilities                                   $ 171      $ 179
     Deferred policy acquisition costs                        (331)      (341)
     Net unrealized gains on available for sale securities    (390)      (560)
     Other                                                      53        (81)
                                                            ===================
                                                             $(497)     $(803)
                                                            ===================

The Internal  Revenue  Service (the  Service) has completed  examination  of the
consolidated  federal income tax returns of the Company and affiliated companies
through  1992.  The Service is  completing  their  examination  of the Company's
returns for 1993 and 1994.  The  Service  has also begun to examine  returns for
1995 and 1996. The Company believes that there are adequate  defenses against or
sufficient provisions for any challenges.

Undistributed   earnings  of  certain   foreign   subsidiaries   are  considered
indefinitely  reinvested by the Company. A tax liability will be recognized when
the Company expects  distribution of earnings in the form of dividends,  sale of
the investment or otherwise.

Cash paid for income  taxes was $309  million in 1998,  $143 million in 1997 and
$285 million in 1996.


9. 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.  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 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 the employee's date of hire 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 plans'  combined  funded  status,  reconciled  to amounts  recognized in the
consolidated  statements of financial  position and  consolidated  statements of
operations, is as follows (in millions):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                           Other Postretirement Benefits
                                              Pension Benefits
                                      ----------------------------------   -------------------------------
                                           Year ended December 31              Year ended December 31
                                        1998       1997        1996          1998       1997       1996
                                      --------- ----------- ------------   ---------- ---------- ---------
   <S>                                  <C>        <C>         <C>           <C>        <C>        <C>
   Change in benefit obligation
   Benefit obligation at beginning      $(700)     $(732)      $(670)        $(214)     $(218)     $(212)
     of year
   Service cost                           (34)       (41)        (38)          (12)       (12)       (12)
   Interest cost                          (50)       (52)        (46)          (15)       (16)       (15)
   Plan amendment                           -          -         (16)            -          -          -
   Actuarial gain (loss)                  (79)        97          19            22         22         14
   Curtailment adjustment                   -          7           -             -          -          -
   Benefits paid                           36         21          19            13         10          7
                                      ========= =========== ============   ========== ========== =========
   Benefit obligation at end of year    $(827)     $(700)      $(732)        $(206)     $(214)     $(218)
                                      ========= =========== ============   ========== ========== =========
</TABLE>


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                   Other Postretirement Benefits
                                                   Pension Benefits
                                         --------------------------------------    ------------------------------
                                                Year ended December 31                Year ended December 31
                                            1998        1997          1996          1998       1997       1996
                                         ----------- ------------ -------------   ---------- ---------- ----------
   <S>                                      <C>          <C>          <C>           <C>         <C>        <C>
   Change in plan assets
   Fair value of plan assets at
     beginning of year                      $980         $841         $723          $300        $247       $208
   Actual return on plan assets               23          130          118            15          41         32
   Employer contribution                      26           26           20            26          25         17
   Benefits paid                             (36)         (17)         (20)          (15)        (13)       (10)
                                         ----------- ------------ -------------   ---------- ---------- ----------
   Fair value of plan assets at end of      $993         $980         $841          $326        $300       $247
     year
                                         =========== ============ =============   ========== ========== ==========

   Funded status                            $166         $280         $109          $120        $ 86       $ 29
   Unrecognized net actuarial gain           (38)        (182)         (29)          (71)        (53)       (10)
   Unrecognized prior service cost            12           14           17             -           -          -
   Unamortized transition obligation         (37)         (49)         (60)            8          12         17
                                         ----------- ------------ -------------   ---------- ---------- ----------
   Prepaid benefit cost                     $103         $ 63         $ 37          $ 57        $ 45       $ 36
                                         =========== ============ =============   ========== ========== ==========

   Weighted-average assumptions as of
   December 31
   Discount rate                            6.75%        7.25%        7.25%          6.75%      7.25%      7.25%

   Components of net periodic benefit
     cost
   Service cost                             $ 34         $ 41         $ 38          $ 12        $ 12       $ 12
   Interest cost                              50           52           46            15          16         15
   Expected return on plan assets            (75)         (80)        (119)          (16)        (16)       (13)
   Amortization of prior service cost          1            1            1             -           -          -
   Amortization of transition (asset)
     obligation                              (11)         (11)         (11)            4           4          4
   Recognized net actuarial loss (gain)       (8)           2           52            (1)          -          -
                                         ----------- ------------ -------------   ---------- ---------- ----------
   Net periodic benefit cost (income)       $ (9)        $  5         $  7          $ 14        $ 16       $ 18
                                         =========== ============ =============   ========== ========== ==========
</TABLE>

For 1998,  1997 and 1996, the expected  long-term rates of return on plan assets
for pension benefits were  approximately  5%, 5% and 6.2%,  respectively  (after
estimated income taxes) for those trusts subject to income taxes. For trusts not
subject to income taxes,  the expected  long-term rates of return on plan assets
were  approximately  8.1%, 8.1% and 9.6% for 1998, 1997 and 1996,  respectively.
The assumed  rate of increase in future  compensation  levels  varies by age for
both the qualified and non-qualified pension plans.

For 1998,  1997 and 1996, the expected  long-term rates of return on plan assets
for  other  post-retirement   benefits  were  approximately  5%,  5%  and  6.2%,
respectively  (after  estimated income taxes) for those trusts subject to income
taxes. For trusts not subject to income taxes,  the expected  long-term rates of
return on plan assets were approximately  8.1%, 8.2% and 9.5% for 1998, 1997 and
1996,  respectively.  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 8.75% in 1998 and declines to an
ultimate  rate of 6% in 2025.  Assumed  health  care  cost  trend  rates  have a
significant  effect  on the  amounts  reported  for the  health  care  plans.  A
one-percentage-point  change in assumed  health care cost trend rates would have
the following effects (in millions):

                                             1-Percentage-     1-Percentage-
                                            Point Increase    Point Decrease
                                            ---------------   ---------------
   Effect on total of service and 
     interest cost components                    $ 9               $ (6)
   Effect on accumulated postretirement
     benefit obligation                          $43               $(34)

In  addition,  the  Company has defined  contribution  plans that are  generally
available  to all  employees  and  agents  who  are  age 21 or  older.  Eligible
participants  may  contribute up to 20% of their  compensation,  to a maximum of
$10,000  annually  to the  plans in 1998.  Eligible  participants  were  able to
contribute up to 15% of their  compensation,  to a maximum of $9,500 annually to
the plans in 1997 and 1996. The Company matches the  participant's  contribution
at a 50%  contribution  rate up to a maximum  Company  contribution of 2% of the
participant's  compensation.  The Company  contributed  $11 million in 1998, $15
million in 1997 and $13 million in 1996 to these defined contribution plans.


10. Reinsurance

Reinsurance  contracts  do not  relieve  the  Company  from its  obligations  to
policyowners.  Failure of reinsurers to honor their  obligations could result in
losses to the  Company.  To  minimize  the  possibility  of losses,  the Company
evaluates the financial  condition of its  reinsurers and  continually  monitors
concentrations of credit risk.

The effect of reinsurance on premiums and annuity and other  considerations  and
benefits, claims and settlement expenses is as follows (in millions):

                                                      Year ended December 31
                                            1998           1997         1996
                                           -----------------------------------
                                           -----------------------------------

Premiums and annuity and other 
considerations:
     Direct                                $3,380         $4,601       $5,034
     Assumed                                   59            106          116
     Ceded                                    (30)           (39)         (29)
                                           ===================================
Net premiums and annuity and other 
considerations                             $3,409         $4,668       $5,121
                                           ===================================
                                           ===================================

Benefits, claims and settlement expenses:
     Direct                                $4,739         $5,596       $6,003
     Assumed                                   66            102          109
     Ceded                                    (28)           (66)         (25)
                                           ===================================
Net benefits, claims and
     settlement expenses                   $4,777         $5,632       $6,087
                                           ===================================

Effective July 1, 1998, the Company no longer  participates in reinsurance pools
related to the Federal  Employee  Group Life  Insurance  and Service  Group Life
Insurance  programs.  In 1997, the premium assumed from these  arrangements  was
approximately $85 million.


11. Other Commitments and Contingencies

The Company,  as a lessor,  leases industrial,  office,  retail and other wholly
owned investment real estate properties under various  operating leases.  Rental
income for all operating  leases  totaled $362 million in 1998,  $344 million in
1997 and $310  million in 1996.  At December  31, 1998,  future  minimum  annual
rental commitments under these noncancelable operating leases are as follows (in
millions):

                                     Held for Sale    Held for     Total Rental
                                                     Investment     Commitments
                                     -------------------------------------------
   1999                                  $150          $   172         $   322
   2000                                   127              162             289
   2001                                   103              140             243
   2002                                    77              117             194
   2003                                    49               99             148
   Thereafter                             152              758             910
                                     ===========================================
Total future minimum lease receipts      $658           $1,448           $2,106
                                     ===========================================


The Company,  as a lessee,  leases  office  space,  data  processing  equipment,
corporate  aircraft and office  furniture and equipment under various  operating
leases.  Rental expense for all operating leases totaled $60 million in 1998 and
$84 million in both 1997 and 1996. At December 31, 1998,  future  minimum annual
rental commitments under these noncancelable operating leases are as follows (in
millions):

   1999                                                   $  44
   2000                                                      38
   2001                                                      28
   2002                                                      22
   2003                                                      14
   Thereafter                                                17
                                                        -----------
                                                            163
   Less future sublease rental income on these 
     noncancelable leases                                     6
                                                        ===========
   Total future minimum lease payments                     $157
                                                        ===========

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 the resolution of such actions would not have a material
effect on the Company's consolidated 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  policyowners  and  claimants  in the  event  of
insolvency  of other  insurance  companies.  The  assessments  may be  partially
recovered  through  a  reduction  in future  premium  taxes in some  states.  At
December  31,  1998  and  1997,   approximately   $9  million  and  $6  million,
respectively,  is accrued in other liabilities in the consolidated statements of
financial  position for possible  guarantee fund  assessments  for which notices
have not been received and the Company does not  anticipate  receiving a premium
tax credit.


12. Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The following  discussion  describes the methods and assumptions utilized by the
Company in estimating  its fair value  disclosures  for  financial  instruments.
Certain financial instruments,  particularly  policyowner liabilities other than
investment   contracts,   are   excluded   from  these  fair  value   disclosure
requirements. The 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 financial  instruments
presented  below.  The  estimates  shown are not  necessarily  indicative of the
amounts that would be realized in a one-time,  current market exchange of all of
the Company's financial instruments.

The Company defines fair value as the quoted market prices for those instruments
that are actively  traded in  financial  markets.  In cases where quoted  market
prices are not available, fair values are estimated using present value or other
valuation  techniques.  The fair value estimates are made at a specific point in
time,  based on available  market  information and judgments about the financial
instrument,  including estimates of timing, amount of expected future cash flows
and the credit  standing of  counterparties.  Such estimates do not consider the
tax impact of the realization of unrealized gains or losses.  In many cases, the
fair value  estimates  cannot be  substantiated  by  comparison  to  independent
markets.  In  addition,  the  disclosed  fair value may not be  realized  in the
immediate settlement of the financial instrument.

Fair values of public debt and equity  securities  have been  determined  by the
Company from public quotations, when available. Private placement securities and
other fixed  maturities  and equity  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.

Fair values of  commercial  mortgage  loans are  determined by  discounting  the
expected  total cash flows using market rates that are  applicable to the yield,
credit quality and maturity of each loan.  Fair values of  residential  mortgage
loans are  determined 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 fair values for assets classified as policy loans, other  investments,  cash
and  cash  equivalents  and  accrued   investment  income  in  the  accompanying
consolidated   statements  of  financial  position  approximate  their  carrying
amounts.

The fair values of the Company's  reserves and liabilities  for  investment-type
insurance contracts  (insurance,  annuity and other policy contracts that do not
involve  significant  mortality or morbidity risk and that are only a portion of
the  policyowner   liabilities  appearing  in  the  consolidated  statements  of
financial  position) 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).
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.

Fair values for debt issues are estimated  using  discounted  cash flow analysis
based  on  the  Company's  incremental  borrowing  rate  for  similar  borrowing
arrangements.

The  carrying  amounts  and  estimated  fair values of the  Company's  financial
instruments at December 31, 1998 and 1997, are as follows (in millions):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                             1998                         1997
                                                  ---------------------------  ----------------------------
                                                     Carrying       Fair         Carrying        Fair
                                                      Amount        Value         Amount         Value
                                                  ---------------------------  ----------------------------
   Assets (liabilities)
   <S>                                                <C>           <C>            <C>          <C>
   Fixed maturities (see Note 3)                      $21,006       $21,006        $21,546      $21,546
   Equity securities (see Note 3)                       1,102         1,102          1,273        1,273
   Mortgage loans                                      12,091        12,711         13,286       14,010
   Policy loans                                            25            25            749          749
   Other investments                                      349           349            130          130
   Cash and cash equivalents                              461           461            546          546
   Accrued investment income                              375           375            457          457
   Financial instruments included in Closed
     Block (see Note 5)                                 3,587         3,652              -            -
   Investment-type insurance contracts                (22,127)      (21,606)       (22,115)     (22,637)
   Debt                                                  (671)         (708)          (459)        (486)
</TABLE>


13. Statutory Insurance Financial Information

The Company  prepares  statutory  financial  statements in  accordance  with the
accounting  practices  prescribed or permitted by the Insurance  Division of the
Department of Commerce of the State of Iowa.  Currently  "prescribed"  statutory
accounting   practices  include  a  variety  of  publications  of  the  National
Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) as well as state laws, regulations
and general  administrative  rules.  "Permitted"  statutory accounting practices
encompass  all  accounting  practices  not  so  prescribed.  The  impact  of any
permitted  accounting  practices  on  statutory  surplus  is not  material.  The
accounting   practices  used  to  prepare  statutory  financial  statements  for
regulatory  filings  differ  in  certain  instances  from  GAAP.  Prescribed  or
permitted statutory accounting practices are used by state insurance departments
to regulate the Company.

The NAIC  has  adopted  the  Codification  of  Statutory  Accounting  Principles
(Codification), the result of which is expected to constitute the primary source
of "prescribed"  statutory accounting practices assuming formal adoption by Iowa
regulatory  authorities.  If adopted as proposed,  the codification  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.  Codification will require adoption by the
various  states before it becomes the prescribed  statutory  basis of accounting
for  insurance  companies  domiciled  within  those  states.  The  impact on the
Company's statutory financial statements has not been determined at this time.

Life/Health  insurance companies are subject to certain risk-based capital (RBC)
requirements as specified by the NAIC. Under those  requirements,  the amount of
capital and  surplus  maintained  by a  life/health  insurance  company is to be
determined  based on the various  risk  factors  related to it. At December  31,
1998, the Company meets the RBC requirements.

The following summary reconciles the assets and stockholder's equity at December
31, 1998,  1997 and 1996,  and net income for the years ended December 31, 1998,
1997 and 1996, in accordance with statutory  reporting  practices  prescribed or
permitted by the Insurance  Division of the  Department of Commerce of the State
of Iowa with that reported in these  consolidated GAAP financial  statements (in
millions):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                             Stockholder's
                                                                  Assets        Equity        Net Income
                                                               ---------------------------------------------
                                                               ---------------------------------------------
<S>                                                               <C>             <C>            <C> 
   December 31, 1998
   As reported in accordance with statutory accounting
     practices - unconsolidated                                   $70,096         $3,032         $511
   Additions (deductions):
     Unrealized gain on fixed maturities available-for-sale           997            997            -
     Other investment adjustments                                   1,620          1,081          176
     Adjustments to insurance reserves and dividends                 (169)          (192)         (56)
     Deferral of policy acquisition costs                           1,105          1,105            -
     Surplus note reclassification as debt                              -           (298)           -
     Provision for deferred federal income taxes and other
       tax reclassifications                                            -           (475)         165
     Other - net                                                      294            219         (101)
                                                               =============================================
   As reported in these consolidated GAAP financial statements
                                                                  $73,943         $5,469         $695
                                                               =============================================

   December 31, 1997
   As reported in accordance with statutory accounting
     practices - unconsolidated                                   $63,957         $2,811         $432
   Additions (deductions):
     Unrealized gain on fixed maturities available-for-sale         1,176          1,176            -
     Other investment adjustments                                     853          1,141           27
     Adjustments to insurance reserves and dividends                 (173)          (131)         (41)
     Deferral of policy acquisition costs                           1,057          1,057           43
     Surplus note reclassification as debt                              -           (298)           -
     Provision for deferred federal income taxes and other
       tax reclassifications                                            -           (643)           7
     Other - net                                                      184            171          (14)
                                                               ---------------------------------------------
                                                               =============================================
   As reported in these consolidated GAAP financial statements
                                                                  $67,054         $5,284         $454
                                                               =============================================



                                                                                  Stockholder's
                                                                  Assets          Equity         Net Income
                                                               ---------------------------------------------
   December 31, 1996
   As reported in accordance with statutory accounting
     practices - unconsolidated                                   $56,837         $2,504         $415
   Additions (deductions):
     Unrealized gain on fixed maturities available-for-sale           964            964            -
     Other investment adjustments                                     355            901           53
     Adjustments to insurance reserves and dividends                 (156)          (115)         (41)
     Deferral of policy acquisition costs                           1,058          1,058           38
     Surplus note reclassification as debt                              -           (298)           -
     Provision for deferred federal income taxes and other
       tax reclassifications                                           (6)          (493)          60
     Other - net                                                       90            133            1
                                                               =============================================
   As reported in these consolidated GAAP financial statements
                                                                  $59,142         $4,654         $526
                                                               =============================================
</TABLE>


14. Dividends

On  December  1, 1998,  the  Company's  Board of  Directors  declared  dividends
comprising cash and other assets totaling $200 million to its sole  shareholder,
Principal  Financial  Services,  Inc. At December 31, 1998,  $140 million of the
dividends  have  been  paid  and the  remaining  balance  is  reported  in other
liabilities.


15. Year 2000 Issues (Unaudited)

In 1995, the Company began  investigating  the potential impact of the Year 2000
on its systems,  procedures,  customers  and business  processes.  The Year 2000
assessment provided information used to determine what system components must be
changed or replaced to minimize the impact of the  calendar  change from 1999 to
2000.

The Company will  continue to use  internal  and  external  resources to modify,
replace,  and test its  systems.  Management  estimates  100% of the  identified
modifications   to  mission   critical   systems  and  99%  of  the   identified
modifications  to other  systems have been  completed for its Year 2000 project.
The project  completion is scheduled to occur prior to any anticipated impact on
the Company  operations.  The total cost for the project is  estimated to be $20
million, with the costs being expensed as incurred until completion.

The  Company  faces  the risk  that  one or more of its  critical  suppliers  or
customers (external relationships) will not be able to interact with the Company
due to the third  party's  inability  to resolve its own Year 2000  issues.  The
Company has completed its inventory of external  relationships and is attempting
to determine the overall Year 2000 readiness of its external relationships.  The
Company is engaged  in  discussions  with the third  parties  and is  requesting
information  as to those  parties' Year 2000 plans and state of  readiness.  The
Company,  however,  does not have sufficient  information at the current time to
predict whether all of its external relationships will be Year 2000 ready.

While the Company  believes that it has addressed  its Year 2000  concerns,  the
Company has begun to develop  contingency/recovery  plans aimed at ensuring  the
continuity of critical  business  functions  before,  on and after  December 31,
1999.  The Company  expects  contingency/recovery  planning to be  substantially
complete  by April 1, 1999.  The Year 2000  contingency  plans will be  reviewed
periodically  throughout  1999 and revised as needed.  The Company  believes its
Year 2000  contingency  plans  coupled with  existing  "disaster  recovery"  and
"business resumption" plans minimize the impact Year 2000 issues may have on the
organization.

The process the Company is using  encourages the  developers of the  contingency
plans to look beyond traditional systems problems which may include supply chain
issues, economic conditions, social changes, political aspects and other factors
which could influence the success of the business and customers.
    


                                     PART C
                           PERSONAL VARIABLE CONTRACT
                                OTHER INFORMATION

Item 24.  Financial Statements and Exhibits

          (a)    Financial Statements included in the Registration Statement
                 (1)   Part A:
                       Condensed Financial Information for the six years ended
                       December 31, 1998 and for the period  beginning  July 15,
                       1992 and ended December 31, 1992.

                 (2)   Part B:
                        Principal Life Insurance  Company Separate
                        Account B:
                          Report of Independent Auditors.
                          Statement of Net Assets, December 31, 1998.
                          Statement of Operations for the year ended 
                            December 31, 1998.
                          Statements of Changes in Net Assets for the years
                            ended December 31, 1998 and 1997.
                          Notes to Financial Statements.
                        Principal Life Insurance Company:
                          Report of Independent Auditors.
                          Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years
                            ended December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996.
                          Consolidated Statements of Financial Position,
                            December 31, 1998 and 1997.
                          Consolidated Statements of Stockholder's Equity for
                            the years ended  December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996.
                          Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the
                            years ended December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996.
                          Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

          (b)    Exhibits
                 (1)   Board resolution of Registrant (Filed 3/1/96)
                 (3a)  Distribution Agreement (Filed 3/1/96)
                 (3b)  Selling Agreement (Filed 3/1/96)
                 (4a)  Form of Variable Annuity Contract (Filed 12/16/97) 
                 (4b)  Variable Annuity Contract Endorsement (Filed 12/16/97)
                 (4c)  Variable Annuity Contract Rider (Filed 12/16/97)
                 (5)   Form of Variable Annuity Application (Filed 10/23/97)
                 (6a)  Articles of Incorporation of Depositor (Filed 3/1/96)
                 (6b)  Bylaws of Depositor (Filed 3/1/96)
                 (9)   Opinion of Counsel (Filed 3/1/96)
                 (10a) Consent of Ernst & Young LLP
                 (10b) Powers of Attorney
                 (13a) Total Return Calculation (Filed 3/1/96)
                 (13b) Annualized Yield for Separate Account B (Filed 3/1/96)

Item 25.  Officers and Directors of the Depositor

          Principal   Life  Insurance  Company  is  managed by a Board of
          Directors  which is elected by its  policyowners.  The  directors  and
          executive  officers of the Company,  their positions with the Company,
          including Board Committee  memberships,  and their principal  business
          address, are as follows:

            DIRECTORS:                       Principal
            Name, Positions and Offices      Business Address

            BETSY J. BERNARD                 U.S. West
            Director                         
            Member, Nominating Committee     

            JOCELYN CARTER-MILLER            Motorola
            Director                         
            Member, Audit Committee          

            RUTH M. DAVIS                    The Pymatuning Group, Inc.
            Director                         Suite 570, 4900 Seminary Road
            Member, Nominating Committee     Alexandria, VA  22311

            DAVID J. DRURY                   The Principal Financial Group
            Director                         Des Moines, IA  50392
            Chairman of the Board
            Chief Executive Officer
            Chair, Executive Committee

            C. DANIEL GELATT, JR.            NMT Corporation
            Director                         2004 Kramer Street
            Member, Executive Committee      La Crosse, WI  54603
              Chair, Human Resources 
              Committee

            J. BARRY GRISWELL                The Principal Financial Group
            Director and                     Des Moines, IA  50392
            President 

            G. DAVID HURD                    The Principal Financial Group
            Director                         Des Moines, IA  50392
            Member, Executive and                                          
              Nominating Committees

            CHARLES S. JOHNSON               Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.
            Director                         400 Locust, Ste. 700 Capital Square
            Member, Audit Committee          Des Moines, IA 50309

            WILLIAM T. KERR                  Meredith Corporation
            Director                         1716 Locust St.
            Member, Executive Committee      Des Moines, IA  50309-3023
              and Chair, Nominating 
              Committee

            LEE LIU                          IES Industries Inc.
            Director                         Post Office Box 351
            Member, Executive and            Cedar Rapids, IA  52406
              Human Resources Committees

            VICTOR. H. LOEWENSTEIN           Egon Zehnder International
            Director                         350 Park Avenue - 8th Floor
            Member, Audit                    New York, NY  10022
              Committee

            RONALD D. PEARSON                Hy-Vee, Inc.
            Director                         5820 Westown Parkway
            Member, Human Resources          West Des Moines, IA  50266
              Committee

            JOHN R. PRICE                    The Chase Manhattan Corporation
            Director                         270 Park Avenue - 44th Floor
            Member, Nominating Committee     New York, NY  10017

            DONALD M. STEWART                The College Board
            Director                         45 Columbus Avenue
            Member, Human Resources          New York, NY  10023-6992
              Committee

            ELIZABETH E. TALLETT             Dioscor, Inc.
            Director                         48 Federal Twist Road
            Chair, Audit Committee           Stockton, NJ  08559

            DEAN D. THORNTON                 1602- 34 Court West
            Director                         Seattle, WA  98199
            Member, Audit Committee 

            FRED W. WEITZ                    Essex Meadows, Inc.
            Director                         800 Second Avenue, Suite 150
            Member, Human Resources          Des Moines, IA  50309
              Committee

            Executive Officers (Other than Directors):

            JOHN E. ASCHENBRENNER            Senior Vice President

            PAUL S. BOGNANNO                 Senior Vice President 

            C. ROBERT DUNCAN                 Senior Vice President

            DENNIS P. FRANCIS                Senior Vice President

            THOMAS J. GAARD                  Senior Vice President

            MICHAEL H.GERSIE                 Senior Vice President

            THOMAS J. GRAF                   Senior Vice President

            ROBB B. HILL                     Senior Vice President

            GREGG R. NARBER                  Senior Vice President and
                                             General Counsel

            MARY A. O'KEEFE                  Senior Vice President

            RICHARD L. PREY                  Senior Vice President

            ROBERT A. SLEPICKA               Senior Vice President

            NORMAN R. SORENSEN               Senior Vice President

            CARL C. WILLIAMS                 Senior Vice President and Chief
                                             Information Officer

Item 26.     Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control with Depositor

             Principal Life Insurance Company (an Iowa corporation) 
             a life group, pension and individual insurance company.

             Sponsored the organization of the following  mutual funds,  some of
             which it controls by virtue of owning voting securities:

               Principal  Balanced Fund, Inc.(a Maryland  Corporation)  0.17% of
               shares  outstanding  owned by Principal  Life  Insurance  Company
               (including subsidiaries and affiliates) on February 12, 1999.

               Principal Blue Chip Fund, Inc.(a Maryland  Corporation)  0.84% of
               shares  outstanding  owned by Principal  Life  Insurance  Company
               (including subsidiaries and affiliates) on February 12, 1999.

               Principal Bond Fund, Inc.(a Maryland Corporation) 0.62% of shares
               outstanding owned by Principal Life Insurance Company  (including
               subsidiaries and affiliates) on February 12, 1999.

               Principal  Capital  Value Fund,  Inc.  (a  Maryland  Corporation)
               23.76% of  outstanding  shares owned by Principal  Life Insurance
               Company (including  subsidiaries  and affiliates) on February 12,
               1999.

               Principal Cash  Management  Fund,  Inc. (a Maryland  Corporation)
               8.51% of  outstanding  shares owned by Principal  Life  Insurance
               Company (including  subsidiaries  and affiliates) on February 12,
               1999.

               Principal  Government  Securities  Income Fund,  Inc. (a Maryland
               Corporation)  0.04% of shares outstanding owned by Principal Life
               Insurance  Company  (including  subsidiaries  and  affiliates) on
               February 12, 1999.

               Principal  Growth Fund,  Inc. (a Maryland  Corporation)  0.41% of
               outstanding  shares owned by  Principal  Life  Insurance  Company
               (including subsidiaries and affiliates) on February 12, 1999.

               Principal High Yield Fund, Inc. (a Maryland  Corporation)  7.38%
               of shares  outstanding  owned by Principal Life Insurance Company
               (including subsidiaries and affiliates) on February 12, 1999.

               Principal  International  Emerging Markets Fund, Inc. (a Maryland
               Corporation) 47.07% of shares outstanding owned by Principal Life
               Insurance  Company  (including  subsidiaries  and  affiliates) on
               February 12, 1999.

               Principal  International  Fund,  Inc.  (a  Maryland  Corporation)
               22.93% of shares  outstanding  owned by Principal  Life Insurance
               Company (including  subsidiaries  and affiliates) on February 12,
               1999.

               Principal   International   SmallCap   Fund,   Inc.  (a  Maryland
               Corporation) 43.01% of shares outstanding owned by Principal Life
               Insurance  Company  (including  subsidiaries  and  affiliates) on
               February 12, 1999.

               Principal  Limited Term Bond Fund, Inc. (a Maryland  Corporation)
               31.37% of shares  outstanding  owned by Principal  Life Insurance
               Company (including subsidiaries  and affiliates)  on February 12,
               1999.

               Principal  MidCap Fund,  Inc. (a Maryland  Corporation)  0.66% of
               shares  outstanding  owned by Principal  Life  Insurance  Company
               (including subsidiaries and affiliates) on February 12, 1999

               Principal Real Estate Fund, Inc. (a Maryland  Corporation) 68.91%
               of shares  outstanding  owned by Principal Life Insurance Company
               (including subsidiaries and affiliates) on February 12, 1999

               Principal SmallCap Fund, Inc.(a Maryland  Corporation)  22.07% of
               shares  outstanding  owned by  Principal   Life  Insurance
               Company (including  subsidiaries  and affiliates) on February 12,
               1999

               Principal  Special  Markets Fund,  Inc. (a Maryland  Corporation)
               83.30%  of  shares  outstanding  of  the  International  Emerging
               Markets  Portfolio,  43.66%  of  the  shares  outstanding  of the
               International Securities Portfolio,  98.66% of shares outstanding
               of the  International  SmallCap  Portfolio and 100% of the shares
               outstanding  of the  Mortgage-Backed  Securities  Portfolio  were
               owned by Principal Life Insurance Company (including subsidiaries
               and affiliates) on February 12, 1999

               Principal  Tax-Exempt  Bond Fund,  Inc. (a Maryland  Corporation)
               0.05% of shares  outstanding  owned by Principal  Life  Insurance
               Company (including  subsidiaries  and affiliates) on February 12,
               1999.

               Principal Utilities Fund, Inc. (a Maryland  Corporation) 0.25% of
               shares  outstanding  owned by Principal  Life  Insurance  Company
               (including subsidiaries and affiliates) on February 12, 1999.

               Principal Variable Contracts Fund, Inc. (a Maryland  Corporation)
               100% of shares  outstanding  of the following  Accounts  owned by
               Principal  Life  Insurance  Company and its Separate  Accounts on
               February 12, 1999: Aggressive Growth, Asset Allocation, Balanced,
               Bond, Capital Value,  Government Securities,  Growth, High Yield,
               International,  International SmallCap,  MicroCap, MidCap, MidCap
               Growth,  Money Market,  Real Estate,  SmallCap,  SmallCap Growth,
               SmallCap Value and Utilities.

          Subsidiaries  organized  and  wholly-owned  by  Principal Life
          Insurance Company:

               a.   Principal  Holding  Company (an Iowa  Corporation) A holding
                    company  wholly-owned  by  Principal  Life  Insurance
                    Company.

               b.   PT  Asuransi Jiwa Principal Egalita Indonesia  (an Indonesia
                    Corporation)

               c.   Principal   Development    Investors,    LLC   (a   Delaware
                    Corporation)  A  limited   liability   company   engaged  in
                    acquiring and improving  real property  through  development
                    and redevelopment.

               d.   Principal Capital Management, LLC (a Delaware Corporation) A
                    limited   liability   company   that   provides   investment
                    management services.

          Subsidiaries wholly-owned by Principal Capital Management, LLC:

               a.   Principal   Structured   Investments,    LLC   (a   Delaware
                    Corporation)  a  limited  liability  company  that  provides
                    product  development  administration,  marketing  and  asset
                    management  services  associated  with stable value products
                    together with other related institutional financial services
                    including  derivatives,  asset-liability  management,  fixed
                    income investment  management and ancillary money management
                    products.

               b.   Principal Enterprise Capital, LLC (a Delaware Corporation) a
                    company   engaged  in  the   operation   of   nonresidential
                    buildings.

               c.   Principal   Commercial    Acceptance,    LLC   (a   Delaware
                    Corporation)  a  limited   liability   company  involved  in
                    purchasing,  managing  and  selling  commercial  real estate
                    assets in the secondary market.

               d.   Principal Real Estate Investors, LLC (a Delaware 
                    Corporation) a registered investment advisor.

               e.   Principal Commercial Funding, LLC (a Delaware 
                    Corporation) a correspondent lender and service provider for
                    loans. 

               f.   Principal Real Estate Services, LLC (a Delaware Corporation)
                    a limited liability company which acts as a property manager
                    and real estate service provider.

          Subsidiaries wholly-owned by Principal Holding Company:

               a.   Petula Associates,  Ltd. (an Iowa Corporation) a real estate
                    development company.

               b.   Patrician Associates, Inc. (a California Corporation) a real
                    estate development company.

               c.   Principal   Development   Associates,   Inc.  (a  California
                    Corporation) a real estate development company.

               d.   Princor Financial Services Corporation (an Iowa Corporation)
                    a registered broker-dealer.

               e.   Invista  Capital  Management, LLC (an Iowa  Corporation) a
                    registered investment adviser.

               f.   Principal Marketing Services,  Inc. (a Delaware Corporation)
                    a  corporation  formed  to  serve  as an  interface  between
                    marketers and manufacturers of financial services products.

               g.   The Principal Financial Group, Inc. (a Delaware corporation)
                    a general  business  corporation  established  in connection
                    with the new corporate identity. It is not currently active.

               h.   Delaware  Charter  Guarantee & Trust Company,  d/b/a Trustar
                    Retirement Services (a Delaware Corporation) a nondepository
                    trust company.

               i.   The Admar  Group,  Inc. (a Florida  Corporation)  a national
                    managed care service organization that develops and manages
                    preferred provider organizations.

               j.   Principal   Health  Care,  Inc.  (an  Iowa   Corporation)  a
                    developer and administrator of managed care systems.

               k.   Principal Financial  Advisors,  Inc. (an Iowa Corporation) a
                    registered investment advisor.

               l.   Principal  Asset  Markets,  Inc.  (an  Iowa  Corporation)  a
                    residential mortgage loan broker.

               m.   Principal Portfolio  Services,  Inc. (an Iowa Corporation) a
                    mortgage due diligence company.

               n.   Principal  International,   Inc.  (an  Iowa  Corporation)  a
                    company  formed for the  purpose of  international  business
                    development.

               o.   Principal   Spectrum   Associates,    Inc.   (a   California
                    Corporation) a real estate development company.

               p.   Professional Pensions, Inc. (a Connecticut Corporation) a 
                    corporation engaged in sales, marketing and administration
                    of group insurance plans and serves as a record keeper and
                    third party administrator for various clients' defined
                    contribution plans.

               q.   Principal FC, Ltd. (an Iowa  Corporation) a limited  purpose
                    investment corporation.

               r.   Principal Residential Mortgage, Inc. (an Iowa Corporation) a
                    residential mortgage loan broker.

               s.   Equity FC, Ltd. (an Iowa Corporation)  engaged in investment
                    transactions   including  limited  partnership  and  limited
                    liability companies.

               t.   Principal Bank (a Federal Corporation) a Federally chartered
                    direct delivery savings bank.

               u.   HealthRisk Resource Group, Inc. (an Iowa Corporation) a 
                    management services organization.

               v.   Dental-Net, Inc. (an Arizona Corporation)  holding company
                    of Employers Dental Services; a managed dental care services
                    organization. HMO and dental group practice.

               w.   Principal Investors Corporation (a New Jersey Corporation) a
                    registered   broker-dealer  with  the  Securities   Exchange
                    Commission. It is not currently active.

          Subsidiaries  organized and wholly-owned by Princor Financial Services
          Corporation:

               a.   Principal  Management Corporation  (an  Iowa  Corporation) a
                    registered investment advisor.

          Subsidiaries owned by The Admar Group, Inc.:

               a.   Admar Corporation (a California  Corporation) a managed care
                    services organization.

               b.   Admar Insurance Marketing, Inc. (a California Corporation) a
                    managed care services organization.

               c.   Benefit Plan Administrators, Inc. (a Colorado Corporation) a
                    managed care services organization.

               d.   SelectCare Management Co., Inc. (a California Corporation) a
                    managed care services organization.

               e.   Image  Financial & Insurance  Services,  Inc. (a  California
                    Corporation) a managed care services organization.

               f.   WM. G.  Hofgard & Co.,  Inc. (a  California  Corporation)  a
                    managed care services organization.

          Subsidiary owned by Petula Associates, Ltd.

               a.   Magnus Properties, Inc. (an Iowa Corporation) which owns   
                    real estate.

          Subsidiary owned by Principal Residential Mortgage, Inc.:

               a.   Principal Wholesale  Mortgage,  Inc. (an Iowa Corporation) a
                    brokerage and servicer of residential mortgages.
                                    
          Subsidiaries owned by Dental-Net, Inc.

               a.   Employers Dental Services, Inc. (an Arizona corporation) 
                    a prepaid dental plan organization.

          Subsidiaries wholly-owned by Professional Pensions, Inc.:

               a.   Benefit Fiduciary Corporation (a Rhode Island corporation)
                    serves as a corporate trustee for retirement trusts.

               b.   PPI Employee Benefits Corporation (a Connecticut 
                    corporation) a registered broker-dealer pursuant to Section
                    15(b) of the Securities Exchange Act an a member of the 
                    National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), limited
                    to the sale of open-end mutual funds and variable insurance
                    products.

               c.   Boston Insurance Trust, Inc. (a Massachusetts corporation)
                    authorized by charter to serve as a trustee in connection 
                    with multiple-employer group life insurance trusts or 
                    arrangements, and to generally participate in the 
                    administration of insurance trusts.

          Subsidiaries owned by Principal International, Inc.:

               a.   Principal Insurance Company (Hong Kong) Limited (a Hong Kong
                    Corporation) group life and group pension products.

               b.   Principal  International   Argentina,   S.A.  (an  Argentina
                    services corporation).

               c.   Principal   International   Asia   Limited   (a  Hong   Kong
                    Corporation)   a   corporation   operating   as  a  regional
                    headquarters for Asia.

               d.   Principal    International   de   Chile,   S.A.   (a   Chile
                    Corporation) a holding company.

               e.   Principal  International  Espana, S.A. de Seguros de Vida (a
                    Spain  Corporation)  a life  insurance  company  (individual
                    group), annuities and pension.

               f.   Principal Mexico Compania de Seguros, S.A. de C.V. (a Mexico
                    Corporation)  a  life  insurance  company   (individual  and
                    group), personal accidents.

               g.   Principal Afore, S.A. de C.V. (a Mexico Corporation), 
                    pension.

               h.   Zao Principal International (a Russia Corporation) inactive.

               i.   Principal  Trust  Company  (Asia)  Limited  (an  Asia  trust
                    company).

               j.   Principal Asset Management Company (Asia) Ltd. (Hong Kong)
                    a corporation which manages pension funds.

               k.   Principal  Consulting  (India)  Private  Limited  (an  India
                    corporation) an India consulting company.

          Subsidiaries  owned by Principal International Argentina, S.A.:

               a.   Principal Compania de Seguros de Retiro,  S.A. (an Argentina
                    Corporation) an individual annuity/employee benefit company.

               b.   Principal  Life  Compania de  Seguros,  S.A.  (an  Argentina
                    Corporation) a life insurance company.

          Subsidiary owned by Principal International de Chile, S.A.:

               a.   Principal Compania de Seguros de Vida Chile S.A. (a  Chile
                    Corporation) life insurance and annuity company.

          Subsidiary owned by Principal International Espana, S.A. de Seguros de
          Vida:

               a.   Princor  International Espana Sociedad Anonima de Agencia de
                    Seguros (a Spain Corporation) an insurance agency.

          Subsidiary owned by Principal Afore, S.A. de C.V.:

               a.   Siefore Principal, S.A. de C.V. (a Mexico 
                    Corporation) an investment fund company.

Item 27.  Number of Contractowners - As of: March 31, 1999    

                     (1)                          (2)               (3)
                                             Number of Plan      Number of
          Title of Class                      Participants     Contractowners
          --------------                     --------------    --------------
          BFA Variable Annuity Contracts           78                 8
          Pension Builder Contracts               683               378
          Personal Variable Contracts            5215               131
          Premier Variable Contracts            21638               279
          Flexible Variable Annuity Contract    36413             36413
          Freedom Variable Annuity Contract         0                 0

Item 28.  Indemnification

               None

Item 29.       Principal Underwriters

     (a) Princor  Financial  Services  Corporation,  principal  underwriter  for
Registrant,  acts as principal  underwriter for,  Principal Balanced Fund, Inc.,
Principal Blue Chip Fund,  Inc.,  Principal Bond Fund, Inc.,  Principal  Capital
Value Fund, Inc.,  Principal Cash Management Fund,  Inc.,  Principal  Government
Securities Income Fund, Inc.,  Principal Growth Fund, Inc., Principal High Yield
Fund, Inc.,  Principal  International  Emerging  Markets Fund,  Inc.,  Principal
International Fund, Inc., Principal International SmallCap Fund, Inc., Principal
Limited Term Bond Fund, Inc., Principal MidCap Fund, Inc., Principal Real Estate
Fund, Inc., Principal SmallCap Fund, Inc., Principal Special Markets Fund, Inc.,
Principal  Tax-Exempt Bond Fund, Inc., Principal Utilities Fund, Inc., Principal
Variable  Contracts Fund, Inc. and for variable annuity contracts  participating
in Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company Separate Account B, a registered unit
investment  trust for  retirement  plans  adopted  by public  school  systems or
certain  tax-exempt  organizations  pursuant to Section  403(b) of the  Internal
Revenue Code,  Section 457 retirement  plans,  Section 401(a)  retirement plans,
certain non- qualified  deferred  compensation  plans and Individual  Retirement
Annuity Plans adopted  pursuant to Section 408 of the Internal Revenue Code, and
for variable life insurance  contracts issued by Principal Mutual Life Insurance
Company Variable Life Separate Account, a registered unit investment trust.

     (b)      (1)                 (2)                        
                               Positions
                               and offices                   
  Name and principal           with principal                
  business address             underwriter                   

  John E. Aschenbrenner        Director                      
  The Principal
  Financial Group
  Des Moines, IA  50392

  Robert W. Baehr              Marketing Services            
  The Principal                Officer
  Financial Group
  Des Moines, IA 50392

  Craig L. Bassett             Treasurer                     
  The Principal
  Financial Group
  Des Moines, IA 50392

  Michael J. Beer              Acting President              
  The Principal              
  Financial Group
  Des Moines, IA 50392

  Jerald L. Bogart             Insurance License Officer     
  The Principal
  Financial Group
  Des Moines, IA 50392

  Mary L. Bricker              Assistant Corporate           
  The Principal                Secretary
  Financial Group
  Des Moines, IA 50392

  Lynn A. Brones               Vice President Sales,         
  The Principal                Princor Investment Network
  Financial Group
  Des Moines, IA  50392

  David J. Drury               Director                      
  The Principal
  Financial Group
  Des Moines, IA 50392

  Ralph C. Eucher              Director and
  The Principal                Executive Vice President
  Financial Group
  Des Moines, IA  50392

  Arthur S. Filean             Vice President                
  The Principal                                              
  Financial Group
  Des Moines, IA 50392

  Dennis P. Francis            Director
  The Principal
  Financial Group
  Des Moines, IA  50392

  Paul N. Germain              Vice President-               
  The Principal                Mutual Fund Operations
  Financial Group
  Des Moines, IA 50392

  Ernest H. Gillum             Vice President-               
  The Principal                Compliance and Product        
  Financial Group              Development
  Des Moines, IA 50392

  Thomas J. Graf               Director                      
  The Principal
  Financial Group
  Des Moines, IA 50392

  J. Barry Griswell            Director and                  
  The Principal                Chairman of the               
  Financial Group              Board                         
  Des Moines, IA 50392

  Susan R. Haupts              Marketing Officer             
  The Principal
  Financial Group
  Des Moines, IA 50392

  Joyce N. Hoffman             Vice President and            
  The Principal                Corporate Secretary
  Financial Group
  Des Moines, IA 50392

  Kraig L. Kuhlers             Marketing Officer             
  The Principal
  Financial Group
  Des Moines, IA 50392

  Ellen Z. Lamale              Director                      
  The Principal
  Financial Group
  Des Moines, IA  50392

  Julia M. Lawler              Director
  The Principal
  Financial Group
  Des Moines, IA  50392

  John R. Lepley               Senior Vice                   
  The Principal                President - Marketing
  Financial Group              and Distribution
  Des Moines, IA 50392

  Gregg R. Narber              Director                      
  The Principal
  Financial Group
  Des Moines, IA 50392

  Kelly A. Paul                Systems & Technology          
  The Principal                Officer
  Financial Group
  Des Moines, IA 50392

  Elise M. Pilkington          Assistant Director -          
  The Principal                Retirement Consulting
  Financial Group       
  Des Moines, IA  50392

  Richard L. Prey              Director                      
  The Principal
  Financial Group
  Des Moines, IA  50392

  Layne A. Rasmussen           Controller-Mutual Funds       
  The Principal
  Financial Group
  Des Moines, IA 50392

  Martin R. Richardson         Operations Officer-           
  The Principal                Broker/Dealer Services 
  Financial Group
  Des Moines, IA  50392

  Elizabeth R. Ring            Controller                    
  The Principal
  Financial Group
  Des Moines, IA 50392

  Michael D. Roughton          Counsel                       
  The Principal
  Financial Group
  Des Moines, IA 50392

  Jean B. Schustek             Product Compliance Officer-   
  The Principal                Registered Products
  Financial Group
  Des Moines, IA 50392

  Kyle R. Selberg              Vice President-               
  The Principal                Marketing
  Financial Group
  Des Moines, IA 50392

  Minoo Spellerberg            Compliance Officer            
  The Principal
  Financial Group
  Des Moines, IA  50392

  Roger C. Stroud              Assistant Director-           
  The Principal                Marketing
  Financial Group
  Des Moines, IA 50392

           (c)        (1)                       (2)
           
                                      Net Underwriting
            Name of Principal           Discounts and
               Underwriter               Commissions

       Princor Financial               $13,709,101.12
       Services Corporation

              (3)                       (4)                 (5)

        Compensation on             Brokerage
           Redemption              Commissions         Compensation

                0                       0                    0

Item 30.  Location of Accounts and Records

          All accounts,  books or other  documents of the Registrant are located
          at the offices of the Depositor,  The Principal  Financial  Group, Des
          Moines, Iowa 50392.

Item 31.  Management Services

          Inapplicable

Item 32.  Undertakings

          The Registrant  undertakes that in restricting  cash  withdrawals from
          Tax  Sheltered  Annuities  to  prohibit  cash  withdrawals  before the
          Participant  attains age 59 1/2,  separates  from  service,  dies,  or
          becomes  disabled  or in the  case  of  hardship,  Registrant  acts in
          reliance of SEC No Action Letter addressed to American Counsel of Life
          Insurance (available November 28, 1988). Registrant further undertakes
          that:

          1.   Registrant  has included  appropriate  disclosure  regarding  the
               redemption  restrictions  imposed  by Section  403(b)(11)  in its
               registration  statement,   including  the  prospectus,   used  in
               connection with the offer of the contract;

          2.   Registrant  will include  appropriate  disclosure  regarding  the
               redemption  restrictions  imposed  by Section  403(b)(11)  in any
               sales  literature  used  in  connection  with  the  offer  of the
               contract;

          3.   Registrant will instruct sales  representatives  who solicit Plan
               Participants  to purchase the contract  specifically to bring the
               redemption  restrictions  imposed  by Section  403(b)(11)  to the
               attention of the potential Plan Participants; and

          4.   Registrant will obtain from each Plan Participant who purchases a
               Section 403(b) annuity contract,  prior to or at the time of such
               purchase, a signed statement acknowledging the Plan Participant's
               understanding  of (a) the  restrictions on redemption  imposed by
               Section 403(b)(11), and (b) the investment alternatives available
               under the  employer's  Section 403(b)  arrangement,  to which the
               Plan Participant may elect to transfer his contract value.

  REPRESENTATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 26 OF THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940

Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company represents the fees and charges deducted
under the Policy,  in the aggregate,  are reasonable in relation to the services
rendered,  the expenses  expected to be incurred,  and the risks  assumed by the
Company.
<PAGE>
                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant  to  the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act of  1933  and  the
Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant, Principal Life Insurance Company
Separate  Account B, certifies that it meets the  requirements of Securities Act
Rule 485(b) for effectiveness of the Registration  Statement and has duly caused
this Amendment to the  Registration  Statement to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereto duly authorized in the City of Des Moines and State of Iowa,
on the 19th day of April, 1999

                         PRINCIPAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                         SEPARATE ACCOUNT B

                                 (Registrant)


                         By:  PRINCIPAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

                                 (Depositor)

                                   /s/ David J. Drury
                         By ______________________________________________
                              David J. Drury
                              Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Attest:

/s/ Joyce N. Hoffman
- -----------------------------------
Joyce N. Hoffman
Vice President and
  Corporate Secretary


As required by the  Securities Act of 1933,  this Amendment to the  Registration
Statement has been signed by the following  persons in the capacities and on the
date indicated.

Signature                          Title                           Date

/s/ D. J. Drury                Chairman and                    April 19, 1999
- --------------------           Chief Executive Officer
D. J. Drury


/s/ D. C. Cunningham           Vice President and              April 19, 1999
- --------------------           Controller (Principal
D. C. Cunningham               Accounting Officer)


/s/ M. H. Gersie               Senior Vice President           April 19, 1999
- --------------------           (Principal Financial
M. H. Gersie                   Officer)


  (B. J. Bernard)*             Director                        April 19, 1999
- --------------------
B. J. Bernard


  (J. Carter-Miller)*          Director                        April 19, 1999
- --------------------
J. Carter-Miller


  (R. M. Davis)*               Director                        April 19, 1999
- --------------------
R. M. Davis


  (C. D. Gelatt, Jr.)*         Director                        April 19, 1999
- --------------------
C. D. Gelatt, Jr.


  (J. B. Griswell)*            Director                        April 19, 1999
- --------------------
J. B. Griswell


  (G. D. Hurd)*                Director                        April 19, 1999
- --------------------
G. D. Hurd


  (C. S. Johnson)*             Director                        April 19, 1999
- --------------------
C. S. Johnson


  (W. T. Kerr)*                Director                        April 19, 1999
- --------------------
W. T. Kerr


  (L. Liu)*                    Director                        April 19, 1999
- --------------------
L. Liu


  (V. H. Loewenstein)*         Director                        April 19, 1999
- --------------------
V. H. Loewenstein


  (R. D. Pearson)*             Director                        April 19, 1999
- --------------------
R. D. Pearson


  (J. R. Price)*               Director                        April 19, 1999
- --------------------
J. R. Price, Jr.


  (D. M. Stewart)*             Director                        April 19, 1999
- --------------------
D. M. Stewart


  (E. E. Tallett)*             Director                        April 19, 1999
- --------------------
E. E. Tallett


  (D. D. Thornton)*            Director                        April 19, 1999
- --------------------
D. D. Thornton


  (F. W. Weitz)*               Director                        April 19, 1999
- --------------------
F. W. Weitz


                           *By    /s/ David J. Drury
                                  ------------------------------------
                                  David J. Drury
                                  Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

                                  Pursuant to Powers of Attorney
                                  Previously Filed or Included Herein

                        Consent of Independent Auditors








We  consent  to the  reference  to our  firm  under  the  captions  "Independent
Auditors"  and to the use of our reports  dated January 29, 1999 with respect to
Principal Life Insurance Company Separate Account B and Principal Life Insurance
Company, in Post-Effective  Amendment No. 13 to the Registration Statement (Form
N-4 No.  33-44565) and related  Prospectus of Principal Life  Insurance  Company
Separate  Account B Personal  Variable (a Group  Variable  Annuity  Contract for
Employer-Sponsored Qualified and Non-Qualified Retirement Plans).


/s/ Ernst & Young LLP


Des Moines, Iowa
April 19, 1999

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS,  that the undersigned director of Principal Life
Insurance Company,  an Iowa corporation (the "Company"),  hereby constitutes and
appoints D. J. Drury, J. B. Griswell,  G. R. Narber and J. N. Hoffman,  and each
of them (with full power to each of them to act alone),  the undersigned's  true
and lawful  attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution to each,
for and on behalf  and in the  name,  place  and  stead of the  undersigned,  to
execute and file any of the documents referred to below relating to registration
under the  Securities  Act of 1933 with respect to variable  annuity  contracts,
with premiums  received in connection  with such contracts held in the Principal
Life Insurance  Company  Separate Account B on Form N-4 or other forms under the
Securities  Act of  1933,  and  any  and  all  amendments  thereto  and  reports
thereunder  with all exhibits and all  instruments  necessary or  appropriate in
connection therewith, each of said attorneys-in-fact and agents and his or their
substitutes  being empowered to act with or without the others or other,  and to
have  full  power  and  authority  to do or  cause to be done in the name and on
behalf of the  undersigned  each and every act and thing requisite and necessary
or  appropriate  with  respect  thereto to be done in and about the  premises in
order to  effectuate  the same,  as fully to all  intents  and  purposes  as the
undersigned  might or could do in person;  hereby  ratifying and  confirming all
that said  attorneys-in-fact  and agents,  or any of them, may do or cause to be
done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned director has hereunto set his hand this 
14th day of April, 1999.


                                               /s/ Betsy J. Bernard
                                             __________________________
                                               B. J. Bernard


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS,  that the undersigned director of Principal Life
Insurance Company,  an Iowa corporation (the "Company"),  hereby constitutes and
appoints D. J. Drury, J. B. Griswell,  G. R. Narber and J. N. Hoffman,  and each
of them (with full power to each of them to act alone),  the undersigned's  true
and lawful  attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution to each,
for and on behalf  and in the  name,  place  and  stead of the  undersigned,  to
execute and file any of the documents referred to below relating to registration
under the  Securities  Act of 1933 with respect to variable  annuity  contracts,
with premiums  received in connection  with such contracts held in the Principal
Life Insurance  Company  Separate Account B on Form N-4 or other forms under the
Securities  Act of  1933,  and  any  and  all  amendments  thereto  and  reports
thereunder  with all exhibits and all  instruments  necessary or  appropriate in
connection therewith, each of said attorneys-in-fact and agents and his or their
substitutes  being empowered to act with or without the others or other,  and to
have  full  power  and  authority  to do or  cause to be done in the name and on
behalf of the  undersigned  each and every act and thing requisite and necessary
or  appropriate  with  respect  thereto to be done in and about the  premises in
order to  effectuate  the same,  as fully to all  intents  and  purposes  as the
undersigned  might or could do in person;  hereby  ratifying and  confirming all
that said  attorneys-in-fact  and agents,  or any of them, may do or cause to be
done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned director has hereunto set his hand this 
14th day of April, 1999.


                                             /s/ Jocelyn Carter-Miller
                                             __________________________
                                                 J. Carter-Miller


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