<ARTICLE>           7
<LEGEND>            THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL
                    INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE COMPANY'S CONSOLIDATED
                    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND IS QUALIFIED IN
                    ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
                    STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>        1,000
       
                                                    
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                          3-MOS 
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                  DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                                       MAR-31-1998
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                                                22,968,900
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                                        0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                                          0
<EQUITIES>                                                             263,400
<MORTGAGE>                                                           1,070,800 <F1>
<REAL-ESTATE>                                                                0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                                      28,696,600
<CASH>                                                                       0
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                                     761,800
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                                               3,465,100 <F2>
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                      41,124,000
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                                     23,078,600
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                                                    409,100
<POLICY-OTHER>                                                       1,280,700
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                                  336,600
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                                      4,494,200 <F3>
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                1,388,100
<PREFERRED>                                                            115,800
<COMMON>                                                             2,621,000
<OTHER-SE>                                                           2,504,400 <F4>
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                        41,124,000
<PREMIUMS>                                                             990,100
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                                                    676,200
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                                     104,800 
<OTHER-INCOME>                                                         213,700 <F5>
<BENEFITS>                                                             954,400 <F6>
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                                            170,600 <F7>
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                                                   295,000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                        420,600
<INCOME-TAX>                                                           170,200
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                    250,400
<DISCONTINUED>                                                               0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                        (16,400)
<CHANGES>                                                                    0
<NET-INCOME>                                                           214,600
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                              .69
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                              .65
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                                               0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                                          0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                                            0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                                           0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                                             0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                                              0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                                                      0

<FN>
  <F1>  Includes $596,600 of credit-tenant loans.
  <F2>  Includes $2,442,600 of cost of policies purchased.
  <F3>  Includes $2,059,100 related to consumer and commercial finance debt.
  <F4>  Includes  retained   earnings  of  $2,336,700,   and  accumulated  other
        comprehensive income of $167,700.
  <F5>  Includes  gain on loan  securitizations  of $137,200 and fee revenue and
        other income of $76,500.

  <F6>  Includes  insurance policy  benefits of $680,400 and  amounts  added  to
        annuity and financial product policyholder account balances of $274,000.
  <F7>  Includes   amortization  of  cost  of  policies  purchased  of  $51,000,
        amortization  of cost of policies  produced of $33,200 and  amortization
        related to investment gains of $86,400.
</FN>