EXHIBIT 23(A)




            CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
            --------------------------------------------------------



The Board of Directors
The Travelers Insurance Company and The Travelers Life and Annuity
Company:


We consent to the use of our reports with respect to The Travelers Insurance
Company incorporated by reference herein. 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 also incorporated by reference herein. 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 11, 2005