<ARTICLE>                        5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from Equivest
Finance, Inc. and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial
statements.
</LEGEND>


                              
<PERIOD-TYPE>                    9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                               DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                                  JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                    SEP-30-1999
<CASH>                                            5,894,664
<SECURITIES>                                              0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   174,215,237
<ALLOWANCES>                                     (6,813,676)
<INVENTORY>                                      60,879,922
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                          0
<PP&E>                                           11,223,223
<DEPRECIATION>                                            0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  285,794,246
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                     0
<BONDS>                                         199,579,037
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                30,000
<PREFERRED>                                               0
<COMMON>                                            256,884
<OTHER-SE>                                       62,433,485
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    285,794,246
<SALES>                                                   0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                 65,619,185
<CGS>                                                     0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                    40,786,652
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                          0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                  1,449,919
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               11,053,500
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  12,329,114
<INCOME-TAX>                                      5,075,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                               7,254,114
<DISCONTINUED>                                            0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                           0
<CHANGES>                                                 0
<NET-INCOME>                                      7,254,114
<EPS-BASIC>                                           .27
<EPS-DILUTED>                                           .26