EXHIBIT (7)(d)


                      GE LIFE AND ANNUITY ASSURANCE COMPANY

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

GE Life and Annuity Assurance  Company,  a Virginia  Corporation (the "Company")
and its Sr. Vice  President and Chief  Financial  Officer,  Timothy  Stonesifer,
hereby  nominates and appoints  Pamela S. Schutz,  Selwyn L.  Flournoy,  Jr. and
Patricia L.  Dysart,  (with full power to each of them to act alone) as his true
and lawful  attorney-in-fact and agent, for him and in his name and place in any
and all  capacities,  to execute  and sign all  Registration  Statements  of the
Company filed with the Securities and Exchange  Commission on Form N-4 under the
Securities  Act of 1933 and the  Investment  Company Act of 1940 and on form S-6
under the Securities Act of 1933 (including all and all pre- and  post-effective
amendments  and any  supplements  thereto),  and to file with the Securities and
Exchange  Commission  all  such  Registration  Statements,  amendments  and  any
supplements  thereto,  as  well  as any and all  exhibits  and  other  documents
necessary or desirable to such Registration Statement,  amendment or supplement,
granting to such attorneys and each of them,  full power and authority to do and
perform each and every act necessary  and/or  appropriate  as fully and with all
intents and purposes as the Company itself and the undersigned officers might or
could do.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  GE LIFE AND ANNUITY ASSURANCE COMPANY has caused this power
of attorney to be executed in its full name and by its President and attested by
its Assistant Secretary,  and the undersigned officer has executed such power of
attorney, as of July 21, 2000.

                                GE LIFE AND ANNUITY ASSURANCE COMPANY



                                   BY_______________________________________
                                            Pamela S. Schutz
                                            Chairperson, President and CEO



                                   BY_______________________________________
                                            Timothy Stonesifer
                                            Sr. Vice President and CFO
ATTEST:



______________________________
W. Scott Williamson
Assistant Secretary