<ARTICLE>                        5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from Equivest
Finance, Inc. and Subsidiaries and is qualified in its entirety by reference to
such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                     1
<CURRENCY>                       US Dollars
       
                              
<PERIOD-TYPE>                    3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                               DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                                  JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                    MAR-31-1999
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                           1
<CASH>                                            4,404,183
<SECURITIES>                                              0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   161,152,541
<ALLOWANCES>                                     (4,929,329)
<INVENTORY>                                      60,125,652
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                          0
<PP&E>                                           10,637,862
<DEPRECIATION>                                            0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  271,745,553
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                     0
<BONDS>                                         190,446,369
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                30,000
<PREFERRED>                                               0
<COMMON>                                            256,884
<OTHER-SE>                                       56,768,056
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    271,745,553
<SALES>                                           4,932,236
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                  8,081,859
<CGS>                                             1,174,328
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                     6,821,773
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                          0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                    434,820
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                2,968,817
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                   2,788,685
<INCOME-TAX>                                      1,200,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                               1,588,685
<DISCONTINUED>                                            0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                           0
<CHANGES>                                                 0
<NET-INCOME>                                      1,588,685
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                           .06
<EPS-DILUTED>                                           .06