<ARTICLE> 7 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1999 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1999 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1999 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 2,011,892 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 355,404 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 357,936 <EQUITIES> 35,877 <MORTGAGE> 314,559 <REAL-ESTATE> 34,413 <TOTAL-INVEST> 2,960,125 <CASH> 5,553 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 3,808 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 226,800 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 3,631,734 <POLICY-LOSSES> 2,363,967 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 0 <POLICY-OTHER> 37,814 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 255,055 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 51,694 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 3,000 <COMMON> 49,877 <OTHER-SE> 471,825 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 3,631,734 <PREMIUMS> 114,673 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 169,700 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> (796) <OTHER-INCOME> 14,911 <BENEFITS> 150,644 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 9,251 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 44,333 <INCOME-PRETAX> 62,114 <INCOME-TAX> 20,274 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 41,162 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 41,162 <EPS-BASIC> 1.27 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.24 <RESERVE-OPEN> 0 <PROVISION-CURRENT> 0 <PROVISION-PRIOR> 0 <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 0 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 0 <RESERVE-CLOSE> 0 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 0