<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000811869
<NAME> THE AAL MUTUAL FUNDS
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 12
   <NAME> THE AAL BALANCED FUND CLASS I
<MULTIPLIER> 1
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                    4-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          APR-30-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-02-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               APR-30-1998
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                         30917680
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                        31901446
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<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                       108681
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                            1153169
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                      30085771
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                            99724
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                                0
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<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                          97076
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                       (33572)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                       983766
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                          1047270
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                       (2686)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
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<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                          99473
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                          0
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                251
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                        31077067
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<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                  78310
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                           1006801
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                               10
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   .042
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                           .775
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                            (.027)
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<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              10.79
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   1.98
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
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</TABLE>