Exhibit 24.1


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         The undersigned,  as a director and/or an officer of Dignity  partners,
Inc. (the "Company"),  does hereby  constitute and appoint Alan B. Perper as his
true and lawful  attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and
resubstitution,  for  him  and  his  name,  place  and  stead,  in any  and  all
capacities, to sign the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended  December  31, 1996 and any and all  amendments  thereto,  and to file the
same, with exhibits and schedules thereto, and other documents  therewith,  with
the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto each said attorney-in-fact
full  power  and  authority  to do and  perform  each and  every  act and  thing
necessary  or desirable  to be done in and about the  premises,  as fully to all
intents and purposes as be might or could do in person,  thereby  ratifying  and
confirming all that any said attorney-in-fact,  or his substitute,  may lawfully
do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 27 day of March,
1997.



                                                /s/ Bradley N. Rotter
                                                -----------------------------
                                                Bradley N. Rotter

<PAGE>

                                                                  Exhibit 24.1


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         The undersigned,  as a director and/or an officer of Dignity  partners,
Inc. (the "Company"),  does hereby  constitute and appoint Alan B. Perper as his
true and lawful  attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and
resubstitution,  for  him  and  his  name,  place  and  stead,  in any  and  all
capacities, to sign the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended  December  31, 1996 and any and all  amendments  thereto,  and to file the
same, with exhibits and schedules thereto, and other documents  therewith,  with
the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto each said attorney-in-fact
full  power  and  authority  to do and  perform  each and  every  act and  thing
necessary  or desirable  to be done in and about the  premises,  as fully to all
intents and purposes as be might or could do in person,  thereby  ratifying  and
confirming all that any said attorney-in-fact,  or his substitute,  may lawfully
do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 27 day of March,
1997.



                                                 /s/ John Ward Rotter
                                                 -----------------------------
                                                 John Ward Rotter



<PAGE>

                                                                Exhibit 24.1


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         The undersigned,  as a director and/or an officer of Dignity  partners,
Inc. (the "Company"),  does hereby  constitute and appoint Alan B. Perper as his
true and lawful  attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and
resubstitution,  for  him  and  his  name,  place  and  stead,  in any  and  all
capacities, to sign the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended  December  31, 1996 and any and all  amendments  thereto,  and to file the
same, with exhibits and schedules thereto, and other documents  therewith,  with
the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto each said attorney-in-fact
full  power  and  authority  to do and  perform  each and  every  act and  thing
necessary  or desirable  to be done in and about the  premises,  as fully to all
intents and purposes as be might or could do in person,  thereby  ratifying  and
confirming all that any said attorney-in-fact,  or his substitute,  may lawfully
do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 27 day of March,
1997.




                                                    \s\ Stephen T. Bow
                                                    ---------------------------
                                                     Stephen T. Bow




                                                                Exhibit 24.1


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         The undersigned,  as a director and/or an officer of Dignity  partners,
Inc. (the "Company"),  does hereby  constitute and appoint Alan B. Perper as his
true and lawful  attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and
resubstitution,  for  him  and  his  name,  place  and  stead,  in any  and  all
capacities, to sign the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended  December  31, 1996 and any and all  amendments  thereto,  and to file the
same, with exhibits and schedules thereto, and other documents  therewith,  with
the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto each said attorney-in-fact
full  power  and  authority  to do and  perform  each and  every  act and  thing
necessary  or desirable  to be done in and about the  premises,  as fully to all
intents and purposes as be might or could do in person,  thereby  ratifying  and
confirming all that any said attorney-in-fact,  or his substitute,  may lawfully
do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 27 day of March,
1997.




                                                    \s\ Paul A. Volberding
                                                    ---------------------------
                                                     Paul A. Volberding