<ARTICLE> 7 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 4,035,100 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 1,942,900 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 2,047,600 <EQUITIES> 81,200 <MORTGAGE> 41,400 <REAL-ESTATE> 49,900 <TOTAL-INVEST> 6,446,800 <CASH> 139,100 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 0 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 236,100 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 7,157,200 <POLICY-LOSSES> 0 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 0 <POLICY-OTHER> 339,600 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 5,424,700 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 161,200 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 225,000<F1> <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 42,800 <OTHER-SE> 640,200 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 7,157,200 <PREMIUMS> 145,700 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 387,700 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> 37,300 <OTHER-INCOME> 11,400 <BENEFITS> 319,900 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 49,400 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 69,100 <INCOME-PRETAX> 125,400 <INCOME-TAX> 40,700 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 84,700 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> (800) <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 83,900 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.95 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.91 <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>