<ARTICLE> 7
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                         3,860,200
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                        2,354,700
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                          2,408,100
<EQUITIES>                                      73,000
<MORTGAGE>                                      63,800
<REAL-ESTATE>                                   40,300
<TOTAL-INVEST>                               6,662,400
<CASH>                                          32,700
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                   0
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                         218,400
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               7,461,700
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                      0
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                                  0
<POLICY-OTHER>                                 600,100
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                        5,505,800
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                 85,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          225,000<F1>
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                        43,200
<OTHER-SE>                                     502,500
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 7,461,700
<PREMIUMS>                                      84,800
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                            369,400
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                               1,700
<OTHER-INCOME>                                   8,200
<BENEFITS>                                     290,500
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                     23,800
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                            54,200
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 75,800
<INCOME-TAX>                                    23,700
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             52,100
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                (1,500)
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    50,600
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.15
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.15
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                       0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                  0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                    0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                   0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                     0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                      0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0
<FN>
<F1>(A) Mandatorily Redeemable Preferred Securities of subsidiary trusts
</FN>