Exhibit 23(a)


             CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM


The Board of Directors
The Travelers Insurance Company:

We consent to the use of our reports with respect to The Travelers Insurance
Company, incorporated herein by reference, and to the reference to our firm,
also with respect to the Travelers Insurance Company, under the heading
"Experts" in the prospectus. Our reports refer to changes in the Company's
methods of accounting and reporting for certain nontraditional long-duration
contracts and for separate accounts in 2004, for variable interest entities in
2003, and for goodwill and intangible assets in 2002.

We also consent to the use of our reports with respect to The Travelers Life and
Annuity Company, incorporated herein by reference, and to the reference to our
firm, also with respect to the Travelers Life and Annuity Company, under the
heading "Experts" in the prospectus. Our reports refer to changes in the
Company's methods of accounting and reporting for certain nontraditional
long-duration contracts and for separate accounts in 2004 and for goodwill and
intangible assets in 2002.


/s/ KPMG LLP

Hartford, Connecticut
April 1, 2005