RETAIN THIS DOCUMENT

                                     It Is a
                                   PROSPECTUS
                                       and
                            Summary Plan Description
                                     of the
                       Kansas City Life Insurance Company
                     Savings and Profit Sharing Plan (401-k)


     This  Prospectus  relates to the  offering  by Kansas  City Life  Insurance
Company to its employees and to the employees of its  subsidiaries,  Sunset Life
Insurance  Company  of  America  and Old  American  Insurance  Company,  who are
eligible to participate in the Kansas City Life  Insurance  Company  Savings and
Profit Sharing Plan (the "Plan") of (i) interests of  participation  in the Plan
and (ii) shares of the Company's $1.25 par value Ccpital Stock ("Capital Stock")
which may be acquired by the Trustees under the Plan.

     The  Employer  Identification  Number  (EIN) of Kansas City Life  Insurance
Company is 44-0308260. The Plan Number (PN) is 003.


             THIS DOCUMENT CONSTITUTES PART OF A PROSPECTUS COVERING
     SECURITIES THAT HAVE BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933.
          THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE
           SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR HAS THE COMMISSION'
                  PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS
                      PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE
                         CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

     No  person  has  been  authorized  to give any  information  or to make any
representations  in  connection  with the offering  contained  herein other than
those  contained  in this  Prospectus.  If given or made,  such  information  or
representations  must  not be  relied  upon as  having  been  authorized  by the
Company.  This Prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation
of an offer to buy any securities in any  jurisdiction  to any person to whom it
is unlawful to make such offer of solicitation in such jurisdiction.

     The date of this Prospectus is June 20, 2000.

                               TABLE OF CONTENT'S

Description of Plan......................................................   3-14

Description of Capital Stock of the Company .............................. 14-15

Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference .......................... 15-16

Additional Information ................................................... 16-18

                                   DEFINITIONS

     Company.  The term "Company"  means Kansas City Life Insurance  Company,  a
Missouri Corporation with its principal office at Kansas City, Missouri;  Sunset
Life Insurance  Company of America,  a Missouri  Corporation  with its principal
office at Kansas City, Missouri, one hundred percent (100%) of the capital stock
of which is owned by  Kansas  City  Life  Insurance  Company;  and Old  American
Insurance  Company,  a Missouri  Corporation with its principal office at Kansas
City,  Missouri,  one hundred  percent  (100%) of the capital  stock of which is
owned by Kansas City Life Insurance Company.

     Employee. The term "employee" shall mean any person employed by Kansas City
Life Insurance Company, Sunset Life Insurance Company, or Old American Insurance
Company,  under the rules of common law, and shall not include  agents,  general
agents,  consultants or other  independent  contractors,  or leased employees as
defined in Section  414(n) or (o) of the  Internal  Revenue  Code.  A person who
isn't  designated as an employee on the Company's  employment  records  during a
particular  period  of  time  (including   someone  designated  on  "independent
contractor")  isn't  considered an employee  during that  particular  time. This
person won't be  considered an employee  even if the Internal  Revenue  Service,
Department of Labor or any other government agency, court or tribunal determines
that the person is an employee for any purpose until the Company  designates the
person as an employee for purposes of this Plan. Unless the Company specifically
provides otherwise, this designation will only be applied prospectively.

     Company  Stock.  The term "Company  stock" shall mean shares of the capital
stock of Kansas City Life Insurance Company.

     Executive  Committee.  Wherever  in the Plan and Trust the term  "Executive
Committee"  is used,  it shall be taken to mean the  Executive  Committee of the
Board of Directors of Kansas City Life Insurance Company.

     Board of  Directors.  Wherever  in the Plan and  Trust  the term  "Board of
Directors"  is used,  it shall be taken to mean only the Board of  Directors  of
Kansas City Life Insurance Company.

     Plan Year.  The  records  of the Plan are  maintained  on an annual  basis.
December  31 st of each  year is the end of the Plan year and all  records  will
reflect that fact.


                                        2


                               DESCRIPTION OF PLAN

                     General Information Regarding the Plan

     The title of the Plan is the "Kansas City Life  Insurance  Company  Savings
and Profit Sharing Plan"  (hereinafter  sometimes referred to as the "Plan"),the
address for which is 3520 Broadway, Kansas City, Missouri 64111-2565,  and which
is the issuer of the Interests of Participation under the Plan. Kansas City Life
Insurance  Company,  a Missouri  life  insurance  corporation  organized in 1895
(hereinafter  sometimes referred to as the "Company"),  the address for which is
3520 Broadway, Kansas City, Missouri 64111-2565,  telephone number 816-753-7000,
is the  issuer  of its  Capital  Stock to be  purchased  under  the Plan and the
participating  employer  under this Plan. The employees of Sunset Life Insurance
Company of America and Old American  Insurance  Company,  subsidiaries of Kansas
City Life Insurance Company, may also be participants. Upon proper authorization
by the respective companies, employees of other subsidiaries of Kansas City Life
may be permitted to participate in the Plan.


                                     Purpose

     It is the  purpose of this Plan to  recognize  the  contributions  of those
eligible persons to the successful operation of the companies and to reward such
contributions  by  providing  certain  savings  and  profit  sharing  retirement
benefits for those who become participants under the Plan.


                                  Plan History

     The basic  form of the Plan was  adopted by the Board of  Directors  of the
Company on January 27, 1972 and was approved by the  shareholders of the Company
at their annual  meeting held on April 20,  1972.  The Plan became  effective on
September  1,  1972.  The  parties  to the  Agreement  dated  June 1,  1972 (the
"Agreement")  pursuant  to which the Plan and the Trust were  created,  were the
Company and Harry W. Kenney, D. W. Gilmore and Donald L. Thompson, the Trustees.
The Plan has been amended from time to time, the most recent amendment  becoming
effective   on January 1,  1998.  The  Trustees  are Robert C.  Miller,  John K.
Koetting and Anne C. Moberg,


                        Termination and Amendment of Plan

     The Plan and Trust are purely  voluntary  on the part of the Company and it
reserves  the right to  terminate  the Plan and Trust by  adoption  of a written
resolution  by  the  Board  of  Directors  or  the  Executive  Committee.   Upon
termination,  the participants'  accounts in all Funds shall become fully vested
and nonforfeitable  and distribution shall be made as promptly as possible.  The
Company currently intends to continue the Plan for an indefinite period of time.

     The Company also reserves the right at any time to modify or amend in whole
or in part,  any or all of the provisions of the Plan and Trust by adoption of a
written  resolution  by the  Board  of  Directors  or the  Executive  Committee.
However,  no  amendment  by the Company may be used for the purpose of diverting
contributions and benefits from the participants, retired participants, or their
beneficiaries,   except  as  may  be  required  to  conform  with   governmental
regulations.


                                        3


                              Federal Income Taxes

     On January 20, 2000,  the Internal  Revenue  Service issued the Plan's most
recent favorable determination letter stating that the Plan met the requirements
of  Section  401 (a) of the  Internal  Revenue  Code.  The  letter  stated  that
continued qualification of the Plan will depend on its effect in operation under
its  present  form.  The  status  of the  Plan in  operation  will  be  reviewed
periodically.

     The Company  believes  the Plan  qualifies  and the Trust  continues  to be
exempt under applicable  provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. So long as the
Plan and Trust  continue to qualify in operation,  the Trust's  earnings will be
exempt  from  taxation,  and the  Company's  contributions  to the Plan  will be
deductible for income tax purposes.

     Company contributions made to a participant's elective account do not incur
current  tax  liability,  nor is there  taxation  of any  earnings  of the Trust
credited to his account until such contributions or earnings are withdrawn.

     Generally,  a participant  will recognize  ordinary income on distributions
made to him or her in  amounts  equal to the  amount of such  distribution  less
amounts  attributable to after-tax  contributions made by the participant to the
Plan.  Distributions to a participant  prior to the participant being age 59 1/2
may result in a penalty of 10% of the taxable amount.

     Certain  participants  that  were  age 50  before  January  1,  1986 may be
eligible  for  special  tax   treatments  on  their   retirement   plan  assets.
Participants  who may fall within this  category  of eligible  participants  are
urged to consult with their retirement planning professionals.

     In  addition,   certain   favorable  tax  treatment  may  be  available  to
participants receiving distributions of Company stock.

     Any  distribution  of all or a portion of the  balance to the credit of the
participant  excluding  his own  contributions  prior to  January  1, 1988 is an
"eligible rollover distribution". A participant may elect to have any portion of
the eligible  rollover  distribution  paid  directly to an "eligible  retirement
plan" in a direct  rollover.  An  eligible  retirement  plan is either an IRA or
another  qualified plan. The amount  transferred to an eligible  retirement plan
will not be currently  taxable to the participant.  Any amounts received in cash
and not rolled  over  directly  to an  eligible  retirement  plan are  currently
taxable and will be subject to mandatory  federal income tax  withholding at the
rate of  20%.  Certain  distributions  that  will  not be  considered  "eligible
rollover  distributions"  include required minimum  distributions  under Section
401(a)(9) of the Internal Revenue Code,  non-taxable  distributions,  corrective
distributions,  and "deemed distributions"  occurring as a result of a defaulted
Plan loan.

     Any  employee  who is  eligible  to  participate  in the Plan may  become a
participant by submitting a "request for participation".  As of the 31 st day of
May,  2000,  there  were  approximately  539  employees  who  were  eligible  to
participate in the Plan, of whom 507 have elected to participate.

     The Plan is subject to the protective provisions of the Employee Retirement
Income  Security Act of 1974,  except that it is exempt from the  provisions  of
Title  IV of the Act,  relating  to the  Pension  Benefit  Guaranty  Corporation
because it is defined as an individual account plan or defined contribution plan
rather than a defined benefit plan.


                                        4


                                   Eligibility

     Each present and future  employee who shall have  completed one (1) year of
continuous  employment  with  the  Company  or  companies,  and who  shall  have
completed one thousand (1,000) hours of work in such period (or, if the employee
does not  complete one  thousand  (1000) hours of work in this period,  then one
thousand  (1000) hours of work in the calendar year  beginning with the calendar
year which includes the first anniversary of his date of hire), and who shall be
at least  twenty-one  (21) years of age,  shall be qualified as a participant in
the Plan.

     A participant's  contributions to the Plan shall cease when the participant
becomes  disabled  and is  eligible  to  receive  disability  benefits  from the
Company's disability plan. Such participant may resume making contributions when
he or she returns to work on a full time basis. Vesting shall continue while the
participant is covered by the Company's disability plan.

     Employees are eligible to commence  participating  in the Plan on the first
business  day of the month  coinciding  with or next  following  their  becoming
qualified, whichever first occurs.

     The Company may purchase  stock in the open market or use treasury stock in
making  its  required  contributions  of its  Capital  Stock to the Plan and for
selling  shares of Capital  Stock to the Trustees of the Plan  pursuant to their
investment  decisions.  The Company has registered 400,000 shares of its Capital
Stock under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission. The shares held
under Fund II are included in this registration  statement.  As of May 31, 2000,
144,931 shares of the Company's  Capital Stock were held under Fund II . Also as
of May 31,  2000,  the Plan  held a total of 811,725   shares  of the  Company's
Capital Stock in Funds II and III.

                                  Contributions

     The Plan contains 401 (k)  provisions  giving  participants  the ability to
defer a portion of their  compensation into the Plan. Each participant may elect
to enter into a  compensation  reduction  agreement  with the Company by which a
contribution will be made for the participant's  account in an amount equivalent
to one percent (1 %), two percent (2%),  three percent (3%),  four percent (4%),
five percent  (5%),  six percent (6%),  seven percent (7%),  eight percent (8%),
nine percent (9%),  ten percent  (10%),  eleven  percent (11 %), twelve  percent
(12%),  thirteen percent (13%),  fourteen percent (14%) or fifteen percent (15%)
of his unreduced  monthly salary.  No contribution in excess of six percent (6%)
of unreduced  monthly  salary shall be made for any  participating  employee who
shall be classified as a highly compensated person.

     A participant may elect to change the percentage  rate of his  compensation
reduction  agreement  as of the first day of any month,  but not more often than
once in any six (6) month period.  The participant  shall give written notice of
such  change as shall be  prescribed  by the  Administrative  Committee.  401(k)
contributions  for any  participant  may not exceed ten  thousand  five  hundred
dollars  ($10,500) in any calendar year,  although this amount may be subject to
annual  adjustments  pursuant to Internal  Revenue  Code  Sections  415(d),  and
402(g),  and  regulations.  The  contributions  and any  compensation  reduction
agreement may sometimes be referred to as a  participant's  "elective  account."
Hereafter, participant contributions shall be authorized only as a result of the
compensation reduction agreements with the Company.

     The  term   "compensation"   includes  only  the  fixed  amounts,   weekly,
semi-monthly or monthly,  due and payable to the participant by the Company, and
does not include any bonuses,  overtime pay, pay in lieu of vacation,  pay while
on layoff, severance pay, or other extraordinary payments by the Company.


                                        5


     The Company,  with respect to each participant,  contributes to the Plan as
soon  as  practicable  after  the  end of  each  month,  out of its  current  or
accumulated earnings and profits, a matching contribution determined as follows:

     1.   For employees who had compensation  reduction  agreements in effect on
          December 31, 1997, and

     2.   For  employees  hired in 1997 or earlier who were not eligible to make
          an  compensation  reduction  agreement as of December 31, 1997 but who
          choose  to make the  agreement  when they  first  become  eligible  to
          participate,  the Company  will match the  participant's  compensation
          reduction  $1.00 for each $1.00  deferred up to a maximum of 6% of the
          participant's compensation.

     3.   For all other employees, the Company's matching contribution will vary
          depending  on the  employee's  years of  employment  according  to the
          following schedule:

                                        Matching Amount per $1.00 Deferred
           Years of Employment     (Counting Deferrals up to 6% of Compensation)
              Less than 5                              $0.50
                5 - 9                                   0.75
              10 or More                                1.00

     The Company's contributions are made in Capital Stock of the Company, which
may be  either  treasury  or  authorized  and  unissued  stock.  Old  American's
contributions ore made by the Company and recovered from Old American.  Treasury
Stock or shares of authorized  but unissued are valued at the average of its bid
price  on the  over-the-counter  market  for all  business  days  following  the
previous  monthly  valuation  date.  In the event the Company is precluded  from
delivering its Capital Stock to the Plan by law or because of the unavailability
of such shares,  it is required to contribute  cash which is invested until such
time as shares  of the  Capital  Stock  become  available  for  purchase  by the
Trustees  from the Company or on the open  market.  Commencing  January 1, 1988,
matching  Company  contributions  become fully vested in the  participant to the
extent  shown  below,  upon  the  valuation  date  of the  month  in  which  the
participant  completes  one  thousand  (1000) hours of service for the number of
years of employment with the Company as follows:

       Years of Employment     1       2       3       4      5      6       7

       Percentage Vested       0%      0%     30%     40%    60%    80%    100%

     Commencing  January 1, 1998, a year of employment used to determine vesting
is  1,000  hours in a  calendar  year.  An  employee  who was  hired in 1997 and
completed  1,000  hours  of  employment  in the  12  months  from  his  date  of
employment,  and also  completed  1,000 hours of employment in the calendar year
January  1, 1998  through  December  31,1998  will be  credited  with 2 years of
employment for vesting purposes.  This will also apply to an employee who had an
anniversary of his date of employment in 1997 if he began his employment  before
1997.  After 1998,  vesting will be determined  using only service in a calendar
year.

     In addition to the matching contribution, the Company (beginning with 1998)
may make a  discretionary  profit sharing  contribution  to the plan. The profit
sharing  contribution,  if made,  will be made  for all  employees  eligible  to
participate in the plan who are employed on the last day of


                                        6


a plan year  regardless  of  whether  they  have  elected  to make  compensation
reduction  contributions  to the plan. The profit sharing  contribution  will be
allocated  to  each  such  employee  in  the  proportion  that  each  employee's
compensation  bears to the total  compensation  for all employees,  but will not
exceed four percent (4%) of the employee's compensation.  This contribution will
be made in Company stock and be credited to an  employee's  account in Fund III.
Neither loans nor hardship  withdrawals  will be permitted  from this part of an
employee's  account.  Vesting  for  the  profit  sharing  contribution  will  be
determined in the same manner as vesting for the matching Company contribution.

     A participant may suspend his  compensation  reduction  agreement as of the
last day of any  month by  giving  such  notice  as shall be  prescribed  by the
Administrative  Committee. The participant may resume his compensation reduction
agreement  by giving such notice as shall be  prescribed  by the  Administrative
Committee  on the first day of any month  following  the  expiration  of six (6)
months from the date  contributions  for him were  suspended,  provided he shall
then be eligible to participate.

     Each participant,  not less often than annually,  shall receive a statement
of  account  indicating  total  contributions  from his  compensation  reduction
agreement,  the  total  contributions  made on his  behalf by the  Company,  and
reflecting the increase or decrease in the value of his accounts.

     The Plan includes provisions required by federal law which will result in a
more rapid  vesting if the Plan  becomes  "top heavy" as defined by the Internal
Revenue Code. It is not anticipated that this will occur.

     The Plan will accept  "eligible  rollover  distributions"  from other plans
that are qualified under Internal  Revenue Code Section 401(a).  These rollovers
will be  accepted  from  the  employee  if the  rollover  amount  is paid to the
Trustees  within 60 days after receipt of the  distribution by the employee from
the  other   qualified   plan.  The  Trustees  may  also  receive  the  rollover
contribution  as a direct  rollover from the other  qualified  plan in which the
employee  was a  participant.  However,  an  employee  may not  make a  rollover
contribution  of any amount that is or has been in an IRA  regardless of whether
this  amount  originated  in a  qualified  plan  in  which  the  employee  was a
participant.  All  amounts  received  as  rollovers  will  be  credited  to  the
employee's elective account as if they were contributions to the Plan. They will
be invested in the same manner as other contributions and will be subject to the
same   conditions   relating  to   withdrawals   and   distributions.   Rollover
contributions will be 100% vested in the employee at all times.

           Distribution Under and Withdrawal From the Plan - Defaults

     The full value of a participant's account in the Funds shall fully vest and
shall be paid to him or his  beneficiary in the event he retires or dies. In the
event of  termination  of  employment  other than by  retirement  or death,  the
participant's  accounts  in Fund I, Fund II, Fund IV, Fund V, Fund VI, Fund VII,
Fund VIII and Fund IX shall be fully vested. He shall be entitled to receive the
full value of those accounts.  The  participant  shall forfeit all of his rights
with  respect to the value of his  account in Fund III to the extent his account
therein is not vested.  Except,  however,  if a participant returns to work with
the  Company  or  any of  its  affiliated  corporations,  and  is  qualified  to
participate,  his nonvested portion of Fund III shall be reinstated if he repays
the full amount of the distribution from Fund III before the earlier of five (5)
years after the first date on which he is  re-employed or the close of the first
period of five (5) consecutive one (1) year breaks in service  commencing  after
the withdrawal.  Upon an employee's termination on or after January 1, 1976, any
twelve (12) month  employment  period during which the employee  completes  less
than five  hundred one (501) hours of  employment  or work due to a  termination
shall constitute a break in service.


                                        7


     The normal  retirement  date for all employees  participating  in this Plan
shall be the earlier of the first day of the month following attainment of sixty
(60)  years of age,  or the  first  day of the  month  following  attainment  of
fifty-five  (55) years of age and  completion  of five (5) years of service.  To
determine  this  five (5)  years of  service  for an  employee  of Old  American
Insurance Company, years of service before November 1, 1991 will not be counted.

     All distributions because of termination of employment shall be in the form
of a lump sum  payment,  either in cash or in capital  stock of Kansas City Life
Insurance Company,  unless the participant  elects otherwise.  A nontransferable
joint and survivor  annuity,  providing equal monthly  installments for a period
not exceeding one hundred  twenty (120) months  certain and for the remainder of
his lifetime may also be elected.  If the  participant  dies,  the  distribution
shall  automatically  be made to the  spouse,  if any, or in  accordance  with a
beneficiary  designation  properly filed, or in accordance with the terms of the
Plan.  Federal  law  now  requires  that  if  a  married  participant  wishes  a
distribution to someone other than a spouse, both the participant and the spouse
must consent in writing. If a participant elects to take all or a portion of his
settlement in the form of Kansas City Life Insurance Company stock there will be
no restriction on the resale of that stock unless,  however,  the participant is
an affiliate  under Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933,  e.g., a controlling
person,  executive officer or director,  or owns more than 5% of the outstanding
capital stock of the Company at that time. The procedures  that are available to
affiliates  for resale are an  effective  registration  statement  or sales made
pursuant to Rule 144 of the Securities Act of 1933.  Any  participant  who would
like to have  clarification  may feel  free to  contact  the  Company's  General
Counsel at 816-753-7000. No other form of distribution will be restricted in any
manner.

     A  participant  may  elect at any time to  withdraw  all or any part of the
value of his  accounts  in Fund I, Fund II,  Fund IV, Fund V, Fund VI, Fund VII,
Fund VIII and Fund IX which were contributed prior to January 1, 1988.  However,
an "alternate  payee" under a Qualified  Domestic  Relations  Order may not make
such a withdrawal. The value of "elective account" contributions,  those made on
or after  January 1, 1988,  may not be withdrawn by the  participant  except for
financial  hardship resulting from accident to, or sickness of, a participant or
his  dependents,  or  financial  hardship  resulting  from the  establishing  or
preserving  the  home  in  which  the  participant  resides,  if  funds  are not
reasonably  available from other financial  resources to the  participant.  Such
withdrawal shall be subject to the approval of the Administrative Committee, and
any such withdrawal will be limited to the amount of actual  contributions  made
to the  participant's  elective  account.  No gain on the value of such elective
account  contributions may be withdrawn.  Any such withdrawal for hardship shall
result in the participant's  ineligibility to participate in the Plan for twelve
(12) months.  However, an "alternate payee" under a Qualified Domestic Relations
Order may not make such a withdrawal.

     Commencing  January  1, 1988,  no  withdrawal  of the  vested  portion of a
participant's  Fund III  account  shall be  permitted  except  upon  retirement,
termination or death.

     Any  withdrawal  of a  participant's  pre-1988  funds  shall  result in the
participant's ineligibility to participate in the Plan for six (6) months.

     When a participant makes a withdrawal resulting in a forfeiture, the amount
subject to forfeiture  shall be set aside in a cash account.  If the participant
returns the full amount of his  withdrawal  within five (5) years of the date of
withdrawal, the full value of the amounts set aside in the cash account shall be
restored to him. If the participant does not replace the full amount


                                        8


withdrawn  from his account  within the five (5) year period,  the amount in the
cash account subject to forfeiture  shall be applied to reduce the amount of the
Company contribution required by the Plan.

     A participant may request a loan to be made from his elective account under
such conditions and terms established by the Administrative  Committee. Any such
loan shall be made for a period not to exceed five (5) years,  and shall provide
for  repayment  to the Plan with equal  payments  to be made by monthly  payroll
deduction.  Loans used to acquire a primary  residence  of the  participant  may
provide for periodic  payments over a reasonable  period of time that may exceed
five (5) years.

     A  reasonable  rate of  interest  may be  charged,  as  established  by the
Administrative  Committee from time to time, and such interest payments shall be
treated as earnings of the borrower's account.  Minimum loan repayments shall be
made by payroll deduction.  The Administrative Committee shall have the right to
deny a participant's  request for a loan. An "alternate payee" under a Qualified
Domestic Relations Order may not request a loan.

     Any loan made to a participant  shall result in the  withdrawal of the loan
amount (which would  otherwise  share in the  investment  activity of the Funds)
from the  participant's  elective  accounts.  Any loan  made,  when added to the
outstanding balance of all other loans made to the participant, shall be limited
to the lesser of:

     (a)  Fifty  thousand  dollars  ($50,000.00)  reduced  by the  excess of the
          highest  outstanding  balance of loans to the  participant  during the
          twelve  (12) month  period  ending on the day before the date on which
          such  loan is  made,  over  the  outstanding  balance  of loans to the
          participant on the date on which such loan is made, or

     (b)  The greater of ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00) or one-half  (1/2) of
          the value of the  participant's  elective  account as of the valuation
          date  coincident  with or next preceding the date as of which the loan
          is  calculated.  No loan  may  exceed  the  value  of a  participant's
          elective accounts.

     (c)  A third  limitation may further reduce a second or subsequent  loan by
          the amount of an existing loan balance.

     Loans are due and payable in full when a participant  leaves employment for
any reason.

     Upon termination of employment,  retirement or death, a participant (or his
beneficiary  if death has  occurred) may  irrevocably  elect during the election
period to receive a lump sum  payment  as of January  31st of the next  calendar
year.  If this  election  is made,  his  account  will be valued on the  regular
valuation date in January. The election period begins on the date of termination
of  employment,  retirement or death,  and ends on the last day of the following
calendar  month.  If the  participant  (or  beneficiary)  decides  to  receive a
distribution  immediately instead of the following January,  his account will be
valued  on the  last  day of the  month  in which  the  election  is  made.  The
participant's  account  will be subject to any gains or losses until a valuation
is made.  A  participant  who leaves the Company may also choose not to withdraw
his  vested  account  balances  in  the  Plan,  and  later  elect  to  have  the
distribution  made upon written  notice prior to a  subsequent  valuation  date.
However, unless the participant chooses a distribution in the form of


                                        9


an annuity, only a full and complete withdrawal will be allowed whenever he does
choose to remove  his  vested  account  balances.  No  partial  withdrawals  are
permitted.  While the vested account  balances remain in the Plan, a participant
who has left the  Company  will not be  permitted  to make a loan or  receive  a
hardship  distribution  from these  balances.  Any  distribution  shall occur in
accordance with the Plan's regular procedures.

     Any request for withdrawal must be delivered to and be in the possession of
the Human Resources  department of Kansas City Life no later than 2 p.m., on the
last market  business day of the month on which the  requested  withdrawal is to
occur.


                                   Assignment

     The  interest  hereunder  of  any  participant,   retired   participant  or
beneficiary,  except as may be required by a Qualified  Domestic Relations Order
defined in Section 414(p) of the Internal Revenue Code or as otherwise  provided
in Section 401(a)(13) of the Internal Revenue Code, is not transferable,  either
by assignment or by any other method,  and to the maximum extent  permissible by
law is not subject to being taken by any process  whatever by the  creditors  of
such participant, retired participant or beneficiary.

                           Liens on Funds or Property

     There  is no  provision  under  the  Plan  or any  contract  in  connection
therewith giving any person the right to create a lien on any funds,  securities
or other property held under the Plan.

                           Administration of the Plan

     The  Plan  Administrator  is  Kansas  City  Life  Insurance  Company,  3520
Broadway, Kansas City, Missouri 64111-2565,  Telephone number 816-753-7000,  and
the Company has the right to delegate  responsibility  for administration of the
Plan to  appropriate  personnel  from time to time.  At the  present  time,  the
Administrative  Committee has this primary  responsibility  as authorized by the
Plan.

     The  Administrative  Committee (the "Committee")  consists of not less than
three nor more than five persons  designated by the  Executive  Committee of the
Company. The members of the Committee receive no compensation for their service.
The members of the Committee serve one year terms or until their  successors are
designated  by  the  Executive  Committee  of the  Company.  Any  member  of the
Committee may resign by giving notice to the Company at least 15 days before his
resignation.  Committee  members  shall resign upon the request of the Executive
Committee of the Company.  The Executive Committee of the Company shall fill all
vacancies on the  Committee as soon as reasonably  possible  after a resignation
takes place.

     The names and addresses of the present  members of the Committee,  together
with their positions with the Company are as follows:


                                       10


                                               Position with the
       Name                   Address                Company
 Robert C. Miller     3520 Broadway            Senior Vice President,
                      Kansas City, Missouri    Administrative Services

 Robert E. Janes      3520 Broadway            Assistant Vice President and
                      Kansas City, Missouri    Assistant Controller

 John A. Showalter    3520 Broadway            Associate General Counsel
                      Kansas City, Missouri

 James P. Walsh       3520 Broadway            Assistant Vice President,
                      Kansas City, Missouri    Associate Actuary

     The Committee members,  if otherwise  eligible,  are free to participate in
the Plan.

     The  Committee  has the power to (i) adopt  rules and  regulations  for the
administration  of the  Plan and to  enforce  the  Plan in  accordance  with the
provisions of the Plan and such rules and  regulations,  (ii) interpret the Plan
and decide any and all matters  arising  there under,  except such matters which
the Executive Committee of the Company from time to time may reserve for itself,
and, (iii) make all  determinations  as to the rights of any person to a benefit
and provide a reasonable opportunity for an aggrieved person to have a review of
their decision.  The Committee has the duty,  when  requested,  to report to the
Executive  Committee of the Company  giving account of the operation of the Plan
and the performance of the various funds established pursuant to the Plan.

     The  Company  pays all  expenses  incurred  in  administering  the Plan and
managing the Trust  assets.  The Company does not,  however,  pay any  brokerage
fees,  commissions,  stock  transfer  taxes or other  charges  and  expenses  in
connection with the purchase and sale of securities under the Plan.

                               Investment of Funds

     The following officers of the Company are the Trustees of the Plan:

                                                Position with the
      Name               Address                      Company
 Robert C. Miller    3520 Broadway            Senior Vice President,
                     Kansas City, Missouri    Administrative Services

 John K. Koetting    3520 Broadway            Vice President
                     Kansas City, Missouri    and Controller

 Anne C. Moberg      3520 Broadway            Treasurer
                     Kansas City, Missouri

     The Trustees, if otherwise eligible, are free to participate in the plan.

                                       11


     The Trustees  hold all sums  received from the Company and have the duty to
hold,  invest,  reinvest,  and manage and administer the funds for the exclusive
benefit of the employees  participating in the Plan. The Trustees have the power
to purchase  securities,  common and preferred  stocks,  real estate  mortgages,
debentures,  bonds,  promissory  notes, real estate,  real estate  improvements,
leaseholds  or any other income  producing  properties  or  securities,  real or
personal, within or without the State of Missouri. The Trustees are specifically
empowered to invest in the Capital Stock of Kansas City Life Insurance Company.

     Although investment  discretion rests with the Trustees,  all shares of the
Company's  capital stock allocated to participants'  accounts and held in trust,
whether or not fully vested,  are voted in accordance with the instructions from
the participants. The participants also have the right to direct the Trustees to
respond to an offer for the tender of the Company's  stock,  in accordance  with
rules of  procedure  provided  by the  Trustees  at the time of any such  tender
offer.

     The Trustees, before making any new investment or reinvestment of any Trust
funds, must submit to the Executive  Committee of the Company, or its designated
subcommittee,  a list of such  securities  in which they  propose to invest such
funds and the amount  proposed to be invested in such  securities.  The Trustees
are required to purchase, or refrain from purchasing, the securities proposed in
accordance  with the  acceptance  or  rejection,  in  whole or in part,  of such
proposals by such committee.

                             Participant's Accounts

     Prior to January 1, 1988, all participant's  contributions and any earnings
thereon  were  accounted  for in  Fund I,  Fund  II and  Fund  IV.  All  Company
contributions  and any earnings thereon were accounted for in Fund III, invested
in the Company's capital stock.

     Commencing January 1, 1988,  contributions to each participant's  "elective
account"  continued  to be invested in Fund 1, Fund II or Fund IV as directed by
the  participant,  but were  accounted for separately  from amounts  accumulated
prior to January 1, 1988. The elective accounts are established as a result of a
participant's  agreement to receive reduced compensation.  The elective accounts
are permissible under the provisions of Internal Revenue Code Section 401(k).

     Beginning   September  1,  1993,  Funds  V,  VI,  VII,  VIII  and  IX  were
established. Contributions to each participant's elective account in these funds
continues to be accounted  for  separately  from  amounts  accumulated  prior to
January 1, 1988.

     Although there will be a separate  accounting for a participant's  elective
accounts,  the accumulation of funds in those elective accounts will continue to
be invested by the Trustees in accordance with the rules of the Plan.

     The  Trustees  have  stated  that it is their  present  intention  that the
contributions  to Fund I be invested in American  Century  Growth Fund (a mutual
fund),  Fund II in Kansas City Life Insurance Company common stock (common stock
purchased with elective  contributions),  Fund III in Kansas City Life Insurance
Company   common  stock   (common   stock   purchased   with  Company   matching
contributions), Fund IV in MetLife Managed Guaranteed Investment Contract (GIC),
Fund V in Vanguard Bond Index (a mutual fund), Fund VI in Templeton Foreign Fund
(a mutual


                                       12


fund),  Fund VII in Vanguard  Balanced Index Fund (a mutual fund),  Fund VIII in
Fidelity  Value Fund (a mutual  fund),  and Fund IX in  Vanguard  Index Trust (a
mutual fund). Neither the principal amount nor the rate of return on these funds
is guaranteed by the Plan or the Company.

     Each  participant  may  elect to have  all or a  portion  of his  "elective
account"  contributions  invested  in any one or more of Funds I, II, IV, V, VI,
VII, VIII or IX so long as the investment  percentage is a whole percentage.  No
fractional percentages are permitted.

     Each participant may, not more often than once a month,  transfer the value
of his account in any fund or funds to another fund or funds. However, transfers
to or from Fund II may occur only once in a six (6) month period.  Further, if a
participant is investing all or a portion of his monthly contribution in Fund II
and  transfers  all or a portion of his Fund II account  value to another  fund,
monthly contributions to Fund II must stop for at least six (6) months after the
date of the last  transfer  from Fund II.  Transfers to or from Fund III are not
permitted.  Any  request  for a  transfer  must  be  delivered  to and be in the
possession of the Human Resources Department no later than 2:00 p.m. on the last
business day of the month on which the requested transfer is to occur.

     Each  participant  has an account  with respect to such of Fund I, Fund II,
Fund IV,  Fund V,  Fund VI,  Fund VII,  Fund  VIII and Fund IX as he shall  have
selected from time to time, as well as an account with respect to Fund III. Fund
accounts are valued monthly.  The value of the assets of each Fund is determined
on the basis of market values on the last market business day each month, except
that  the  value  of Fund II and  Fund  III,  comprised  of  Company  stock,  is
determined on the last business day of each month by using an average of the bid
price on the over-the-counter market for all business days of that month.

                          Past Performance of Each Fund

     The following chart shows the approximate percentage increase or (decrease)
in the value of each of the funds in each of the last 5 years as compared to the
preceding year:

                                  PERIOD ENDING

            12/31/95    12/31/96     12/31/97      12/31/98     12/31/99
 Fund I       20.2%       15.5%       28.5%          36.9%        34.4%
 Fund II      27.2%       21.0%       45.6%          (2.5%)      (13.7%)
 Fund III     27.2%       21.0%       45.6%          (2.5%)      (13.7%)
 Fund IV       5.4%        6%          6.3%           5.9%         6.2%
 Fund V       18.2%        3.7%       9.5/10          8.3%        (0.4%)
 Fund VI      11.3%       17.9%        7.0%          (4.4%)       39%
 Fund VII     28.0%       14.0%       21.7%          17.6%        13.3%
 Fund VIII    30.0%       17.1 %      20.5%          (0.3%)        8.8%
 Fund IX      31.5%       17.2%       25.2%           9.1%        37.6%

     The above is the average  rate of return for the funds for an entire  year.
No single participant's performance necessarily reflected this performance.  The
above is no indication of future performance of any of these funds.


                                       13


                          Other Charges and Deductions

     There are no charges and  deductions  which may be made from  participant's
contributions and elective accounts or their  contributions  made by the Company
under the Plan, other than brokerage fees, commissions, stock transfer taxes and
other  charges  and  expenses  in  connection  with  the  purchase  and  sale of
securities under the Plan.

                   DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK OF THE COMPANY

     The  authorized  capital  stock of Kansas City Life  consists of 36,000,000
shares of common stock,  par value $1.25 per share,  of which  12,043,211 shares
were  outstanding  as of June 13, 2000.  No other  classes of capital  stock are
authorized by the Restared Articles of Incorporation of Kansas City Life.

     The  descriptions  set forth below do not  purport to be  complete  and are
qualified in their entirety by reference to:

     *    the 1986 Restated Articles of Incorporation of Kansas City Life; and

     *    the By-laws of Kansas City Life, as amended.

                                     General

     Each share of common  stock  entitles the holder to one vote on all matters
submitted to a vote of the  shareholders,  except the election of directors.  At
all elections of  directors,  each  shareholder  is entitled to as many votes as
shall  equal the number of shares  held by such  shareholder  multiplied  by the
number of directors to be elected,  and such shareholder may cast all such votes
for a single director or may distribute them among the number of directors to be
voted for as such  shareholder  may see fit.  The common stock is not subject to
redemption or future calls or assessment by Kansas City Life.  Holders of common
stock do not have  preemptive  rights,  or rights to convert  their common stock
into other  securities.  The  holders of common  stock are  entitled  to receive
ratably  such  dividends  as many be declared by the Board of  Directors  out of
funds legally available therefore. In the event of a liquidation, dissolution or
winding up of the affairs of Kansas City Life,  holders of the common stock have
the right to a ratable portion of the assets  remaining after the payment of all
liabilities.  All outstanding  shares of our common stock are, and any shares of
common stock sold hereunder will be, fully paid and nonassessable. Ms. Cheryl A.
Keefer is the  registrar  and transfer  agent for the common  stock.  The common
stock is listed on the Nasdaq Small Cap Stock Market under the symbol "KCLI."

              Potential Anti-Takeover Effect of Kansas City Life's
                  Restated Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws

     Provisions of Kansas City Life's articles of  incorporation  and bylaws may
have an anti-takeover  effect and may delay,  defer or prevent a tender offer or
takeover attempt that a shareholder  might consider to be in such  shareholder's
best interests, including those attempts that might result in a premium over the
market price for the shares held by shareholders. Among these are included:

     *    A classified  Board of  Directors,  in which the Board is divided into
          three classes with directors serving three-year terms, so that members
          of one of the three  classes  of  directors  will be  elected  at each
          annual meeting of the shareholders.


                                       14


     *    A  "fair  price"  provision  which  generally  requires  that  certain
          "business  combinations"  with  a "  related  person"  (generally  the
          beneficial  owner of at least 5 percent of Kansas City  Life's  voting
          stock) be approved by the holders of at least 66 2/3 percent of Kansas
          City  Life's  voting  stock  (excluding  shares  held by such  related
          person).

     *    A requirement  that any amendment of the articles of  incorporation be
          approved  by the  affirmative  vote of the holders of more than 66 2/3
          percent of the capital stock voting on such question,  but in no event
          may the  articles  be amended by a vote of less than a majority of the
          outstanding shares.

                 INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

     The  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  (SEC)  allows  the  Company  to
"incorporate  by reference" the  information  that they file with the SEC, which
means:

     *    incorporated documents are considered part of this prospectus;

     *    the Company can disclose important information to you by referring you
          to these documents; and

     *    information  that the  Company  files with the SEC will  automatically
          update and supersede this  prospectus and any previously  incorporated
          information.

     The Company  hereby  incorporates  into this  prospectus  by reference  the
documents  or portions of  documents  listed below which were filed with the SEC
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934:

     *    the Company's  annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended  December
          31, 1999;

     *    the Plan's annual report on  Form 11-K for the year ended December 31,
          1999;

     *    the  Company's  quarterly  report on Form 10-Q for the  quarter  ended
          March 31, 2000;

     The Company also incorporates into this prospectus by reference each of the
following  documents or portions of documents  that are filed with the SEC after
the date  hereof and prior to the  filing of a  post-effective  amendment  which
indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters
all securities offered hereby remaining unsold:

     *    all reports filed under Sections 13(a) and 13(c) of the Exchange Act;

     *    all definitive proxy or information  statements filed under Section 14
          of the Exchange Act; and

     *    all reports filed under Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act, except that
          any  information  included  in any such  document  in response to Item
          402(i),  (k) or (l) of Regulation S-K will not be deemed to constitute
          a part of this prospectus.


                                       15


     Documents  incorporated herein by reference are available,  without charge,
except for  exhibits  to the  documents  unless the  exhibits  are  specifically
incorporated  in this  prospectus by reference.  You may obtain a copy of any of
those documents by requesting them in writing or by telephone from the Director,
Human  Resources  at  the  address   provided  under  the  heading   "Additional
Information" below:

                             ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

     For more information about the Company, please write or call:

                       Kansas City Life Insurance Company
                                  3520 Broadway
                        Kansas City, Missouri 64111-2565
                      Attention: Director, Human Resources
                        Telephone Number: (816) 753-7000

     The  information  on  the  Company's  website,  www.kclife.com,   does  not
constitute  a part of  this  prospectus  and is not  incorporated  by  reference
herein.

     The  Company  is  a  reporting   company   subject  to  the   informational
requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 and file special, annual
and quarterly reports as well as proxy statements and other information with the
Commission.  Individuals  may read and copy  any  reports,  statements  or other
information the Company files at the following locations of the Commission:

 Public Reference Room       Regional Office             Regional Office
  450 Fifth Street N.W.   500 West Madison Street     7 World Trade Center
      Room 1024                 Suite 1400                   Suite 1300
Washington, D.C. 20549    Chicago, Illinois 60661    New York, New York 10048

     Individuals  can  request  copies  of  such  material,  upon  payment  of a
duplication  fee,  from the public  reference  section of the  Commission at 450
Fifth  Street,  NW,  Washington,  D.C.  20549.  Please  call the  Commission  at
1-800-SEC-0330 for further  information on the operation of the public reference
rooms.  Materials also may be obtained from the  Commission's  internet  website
(http:/ /www.sec.gov).

                    Indemnification of Directors and Officers

     Each person who is or was a Director,  Officer or employee of the  Company,
or is or was serving at the  request of the  Company as a  Director,  Officer or
employee of another  corporation,  partnership,  joint  venture,  trust or other
enterprise  shall be  indemnified  by the  Company in the manner and to the full
extent that the Company has power to indemnify such person under Section 351.355
of the  General  and  Business  Corporation  Law of Missouri as now in effect or
hereafter amended.

     Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and  controlling  persons of the
registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions,


                                       16


or  otherwise,  the  registrant  has been  advised  that in the  opinion  of the
Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy
as expressed in the Act and is,  therefore,  unenforceable.  In the event that a
claim for  indemnification  against such liabilities  (other than the payment by
the  registrant  of  expenses  incurred  or  paid  by  a  director,  officer  or
controlling  person of the registrant in the  successful  defense of any action,
suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director,  officer or controlling person
in connection with the securities being registered,  the registrant will, unless
in the  opinion  of its  counsel  the matter  has been  settled  by  controlling
precedent,  submit to a court of appropriate  jurisdiction  the question whether
such  indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and
will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

                    Information, Claims and Appeals Procedure

     If you have any  questions  regarding  the  Plan,  or if you have any claim
regarding  the  payment  of  benefits,   you  should  immediately   contact  the
Administrative  Committee,  or any member of it, and preferably state your claim
in writing.  The Administrative  Committee will consider the matter promptly and
will provide you with a written  statement  in the event any benefits  should be
denied.  Furthermore,  the Committee shall provide you or any beneficiary  whose
claim for benefits has been denied a reasonable  opportunity for a review of the
decision  denying the claim.  Any such  appeal or request  for review  should be
submitted  in writing  within 30 days after  receiving  written  notice from the
Committee that a benefit has been denied. Such statement should include:

     (1)  A request for review by the Administrative Committee;

     (2)  The basis of review and the facts in support thereof; and

     (3)  Any issues and comments which you deem pertinent.

     The Administrative  Committee may require additional documents as its deems
necessary or desirable in making such a review.  A  determination  shall be made
and you shall be  informed  in writing  within 60 days of receipt of the request
for a review,  or in no event more than 120 days if it is determined that a full
hearing must be held.

                   Procedure to Request Additional Information

     If you would  like any  additional  information  or a copy of any  document
related to the Plan, please write to the Director, Human Resources,  Kansas City
Life  Insurance  Company,  3520  Broadway,  Kansas City,  Missouri   64111-2565,
Telephone number  816-753-7000.  In the event you request a copy of any document
not listed earlier as being available  without charge, it will be furnished at a
nominal cost.

                            Statement of ERISA Rights

     As a participant  in the Savings and  Investment  Plan, you are entitled to
certain rights and protections under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act
of 1974 (ERISA). ERISA provides that all Plan participants shall be entitled to:

     Examine,  without charge, at the Plan  Administrator's  Office and at other
     specified locations, such as worksites and union halls, all Plan documents,
     including insurance contracts,  collective bargaining agreements and copies
     of all documents filed by the Plan with the U.S.  Department of Labor, such
     as detailed annual reports and Plan descriptions.


                                       17


     Obtain copies of all Plan documents and other Plan information upon written
     request to the Plan Administrator.  The Administrator may make a reasonable
     charge for the copies.

     Receive  a  summary  of  the  Plan's  annual  financial  report.  The  Plan
     Administrator is required by law to furnish each participant with a copy of
     this Summary Annual Report.

     Obtain a  statement  telling  you  whether  you have a right to  receive  a
     pension at normal retirement age, and if so, what your benefits would be at
     normal retirement age if you stop working under the Plan now. If you do not
     have a right to a pension,  the statement  must be requested in writing and
     is not  required to be given more than once a year.  The Plan must  provide
     the statement free of charge.

     In addition to creating rights for Plan participants,  ERISA imposed duties
upon the people who are  responsible  for the operation of the employee  benefit
plan.

     These people who operate your Plan, called  "fiduciaries" of the Plan, have
a duty to do so prudently and in the interest of you and other Plan participants
and  beneficiaries.  No one,  including your  employer,  your union or any other
person, may fire you or otherwise discriminate against you in any way to prevent
you from obtaining a pension benefit or exercising your rights under ERISA.

     If your claim for a pension  benefit  is denied in whole or part,  you must
receive written  explanation of the reason for the denial. You have the right to
have the Plan review and reconsider your claim.

     Under ERISA,  there are steps you can take to enforce the above rights. For
instance,  if you request materials from the Plan and do not receive them within
30 days,  you may file suit in a federal  court.  In such a case,  the court may
require  the Plan  Administrator  to  provide  the  materials  and pay you up to
$100.00 a day until you receive the  materials,  unless the  materials  were not
sent because of reasons beyond the control of the  Administrator.  If you have a
claim for benefits which is denied or ignored, in whole or in part, you may file
suit in a state or federal court.

     If it should happen that Plan  fiduciaries  misuse the Plan's money,  or if
you are discriminated against for asserting your rights, you may seek assistance
from the U.S,  Department of Labor, or you may file suit in a federal court. The
court  will  decide  who  should  pay court  costs and  legal  fees.  If you are
successful,  the court may order the person you have sued to pay these costs and
fees.  If you lose,  the court  may order you to pay these  costs and fees,  for
example, if it finds your claim is frivolous.

     If you have any  questions  about your Plan,  you should  contact  the Plan
Administrator.  If you have any  questions  about this  statement  or about your
rights  under  ERISA,  you should  contact the nearest  Area Office of the U. S.
Labor-Management Services Administration, Department of Labor.

                       Agent for Service of Legal Process

     Service  of legal  process  may be made upon  Kansas  City  Life  Insurance
Company as the Administrator of the Plan, or such service of process may be made
upon any member of the Administrative Committee or any one of the Trustees. Such
service of legal  process  should be directed to those parties at the address of
the Company, 3520 Broadway, Kansas City, Missouri 64111-2565.


                                       18