Document:

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                                                                 Exhibit 10.5(b)

                        HORACE MANN EDUCATORS CORPORATION
                             STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
                           (1991 Stock Incentive Plan)
                               (DIRECTOR VERSION)

     This Stock Option Agreement ("Agreement") is made and entered into as of
the Date of Grant indicated below by and between Horace Mann Educators
Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and the person named below
as Director.

     WHEREAS, the Company has offered shares of common stock, par value $.001
per share, of the Company (the "Common Stock") to the public;

     WHEREAS, the Company wishes to give its Directors an opportunity to acquire
shares of the Common Stock and to provide an incentive for its Directors to join
or remain with the Company; and

     WHEREAS, pursuant to the Company's 1991 Employee Stock Incentive Plan (the
"Plan"), the committee of the Board of Directors of the Company administering
the Plan (the "Committee") has approved the grant to Director of an option to
purchase shares of Common Stock, on the terms and conditions set forth herein;

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing recitals and the
covenants set forth herein, the parties hereby agree as follows:

     1. Grant of Option; Certain Terms and Conditions. The Company hereby grants
to Director, and Director hereby accepts, as of the Date of Grant, an option to
purchase the number of shares of Common Stock indicated below (the "Option
Shares") at the Exercise Price per share indicated below, which option shall
expire at 5:00 o'clock p.m. (local time at the Company's principal executive
office) on the Expiration Date indicated below and shall be subject to all of
the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement (the "Option"). The Option
shall be Vested as to all of the Option Shares immediately upon the Date of
Grant.

Director:
--------

Date of Grant:
-------------

Number of
---------
Option Shares:
-------------

Exercise Price
--------------
per Option Share:
----------------

Expiration Date:
---------------

     The Option is not intended to qualify as an incentive stock option under
Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code.
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     2. Adjustments. In the event of any merger, reorganization, consolidation,
recapitalization, stock dividend, spin-off, extraordinary distribution, with
respect to the Common Stock, such substitution or adjustments shall be made in
the aggregate number of shares subject to other outstanding Stock Options and
Stock Appreciation Rights, and the number of shares subject to other outstanding
Awards granted under the Plan as may be determined to be appropriate by the
Committee, in its sole discretion; provided, however, that the number of shares
subject to any Award shall always be a whole number.

     3. Exercise. The Option shall be exercisable during Director's lifetime
only by Director or by his or her guardian or legal representative, and after
Director's death only by the person or entity entitled to do so under Director's
last will and testament or applicable intestate law, except as otherwise
provided for in this Agreement (see Section 6 Nontransferability.) The Option
may only be exercised by the delivery to the Company of a written notice of such
exercise, which notice shall specify the number of Option Shares to be purchased
(the "Purchased Shares") and the aggregate exercise Price for such shares (the
"Exercise Notice"), together with payment in full of such aggregate Exercise
Price in cash or by bank check payable to the Company; provided, however, that
payment of such aggregate Exercise Price may instead be made, in whole or in
part, by the delivery to the Company of a certificate or certificates
representing shares of Common Stock, duly endorsed and accompanied by a duly
executed stock power, which delivery effectively transfers to the Company good
and valid title to such shares, free and clear of any pledge, commitment, lien,
claim or other encumbrance (such shares to be valued on the basis of the
aggregate Fair Market Value thereof on the date of such exercise), provided that
the Company is not then prohibited from purchasing or acquiring such shares of
Common Stock.

     4. Payment of Withholding Taxes. If the Company is obligated to withhold an
amount on account of any federal, state, or local tax imposed as a result of the
exercise of the option, including, without limitation, any federal, state or
other income tax, or any F.I.C.A., state disability insurance tax or other
employment tax, then Director shall, concurrently with such exercise, pay such
amount to the Company in cash or by check payable to the Company, or by reducing
the number of shares of Common stock to be issued and delivered to Director upon
such exercise (such reduction to be valued on the basis of the aggregate Fair
Market Value (determined on the date of such exercise) of the additional shares
of Common Stock that would otherwise have been issued and delivered upon such
exercise), provided that the Company is not then prohibited from purchasing or
acquiring such additional shares of Common Stock.

     5. Stock Exchange Requirements; Applicable Laws. All certificates for
shares of Common Stock or other securities delivered under this Agreement shall
be subject to such stock transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee
may deem advisable under the rules, regulations and other requirements of the
Commission, any stock exchange upon which the Common Stock is then listed and
any applicable Federal or state securities law, and the Committee may cause a
legend or legends to be put on any such certificates to make appropriate
reference to such restrictions.

     6. Nontransferability. Neither the Option nor any interest therein may be
sold, assigned, conveyed, gifted, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise transferred
in any manner other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. Any
attempted sale, assignment, conveyance, gift, pledge, or hypothecation or other
disposition of the Option, other than in accordance with the terms set forth
herein, shall be void and of no effect. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Option may be transferred to the spouse or lineal descendant of Director or to
the trustee of a trust for the primary benefit of a spouse or lineal descendent.
Such assignee shall be subject to all of the terms and provisions of the Plan
and of this Agreement.

                                      -2-
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     7. Plan. The Option is granted pursuant to the Plan, as in effect on the
Date of Grant, and is subject to all the terms and conditions of the Plan, as
the same may be amended from time to time, and the Plan's definitions are hereby
incorporated by reference herein; provided, however, that no such amendment
shall deprive Director, without his or her consent, of the Option or of any of
Director's rights under this Agreement. The interpretation and construction by
the Committee of the Plan, this Agreement, the Option and such rules and
regulations as may be adopted by the Committee for the purpose of administering
the Plan shall be final and binding upon Director. Until the Option shall
expire, terminate or be exercised in full, the Company shall, upon written
request therefor, send a copy of the Plan, in its then-current form, to Director
or any other person or entity then entitled to exercise the Option.

     8. Stockholder Rights. No person or entity shall be entitled to vote,
receive dividends, or be deemed for any purpose the holder of any Options Shares
until the Option shall have been duly exercised to purchase such Option Shares
in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.

     9. Service. No provision of this Agreement or of the Option granted
hereunder shall (a) confer upon Director any right to continue in the service of
the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (b) confer upon Director any right to
participate in any employee welfare or benefit plan or other program of the
Company of any of its subsidiaries other than the Plan.

     10. Governing Law. This Agreement and the Option granted hereunder shall be
governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State
of Delaware.

     11. Investment Representation and Agreement. The Committee may require
Director to furnish to the Company, prior to the issuance of any shares upon the
exercise of all or any part of this option, an agreement (in such form as such
committee may specify) in which Director represents that the shares acquired by
him upon exercise are being acquired for investment and not with a view to the
sale or distribution thereof.

     12. Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with the Plan, constitutes
the entire obligation of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter
hereof and shall supersede any prior expressions of intent or understanding with
respect to this transaction.

     13. Amendment. Any amendment hereto shall be in writing and signed by the
parties hereto.

     14. Waiver; Cumulative Rights. The failure or delay of either party to
require performance by the other party of any provision unless and until such
performance has been waived in writing. Each and every right hereunder is
cumulative and may be exercised in part or in whole from time to time.

     15. Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in two counterparts.

     16. Headings. The headings contained in this Agreement are for reference
purposes only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of this
Agreement.

                                      -3-
<PAGE>

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and Director have duly executed this
Agreement as of the Date of Grant.

                                       HORACE MANN EDUCATORS CORPORATION

                                       By
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          Name:  Paul J. Kardos
                                          Title: Chairman of the Board

                                       -----------------------------------------
                                             Director

                                      -4-<PAGE>

                                                                Exhibit 10.11(a)

                                 Execution Copy
                                 --------------

                               AMENDMENT AGREEMENT
                               -------------------

     THIS AMENDMENT AGREEMENT, dated as of February 1, 2000, by and between
HORACE MANN EDUCATORS CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and
PAUL J. KARDOS, an individual residing at 709 Clipper Road, Springfield, IL
62707 (the "Executive").

     WHEREAS, the Company and the Executive are parties to an Amended and
Restated Employment Agreement dated October 6, 1998 (the "Employment
Agreement"), which they hereby wish to amend.

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained in the
Employment Agreement and this Agreement, the parties hereto agree as follows:

     1. All capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meanings
assigned thereto in the Employment Agreement.

     2. The first sentence of Section 1 of the Employment Agreement is amended
to read as follows: "The Company hereby employs the Executive for a term (the
"Term") expiring on May 31, 2000, at which point the Executive will retire from
employment with the Company."

     3. Section 2 of the Employment Agreement is amended to read as follows:
"From February 1, 2000 through May 25, 2000, the Executive shall perform the
duties of Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company. From May 26, 2000
through the end of the Term, the Executive shall perform such duties for the
Company as are reasonably requested by the Company. During the Term, the
Executive shall also serve as an officer and/or director of such one or more
affiliates and subsidiaries of the Company as the Company's Board of Directors
shall request, and shall be entitled to no additional remuneration for such
services. During the Term, the Executive will also diligently assist in managing
an orderly transition of leadership of the Company from the Executive to his
successor as Chief Executive Officer of the Company. During the Term the
Executive shall devote substantially all of his business time and efforts to the
business and affairs of the Company and will not engage in any activity which
interferes with the performance of his duties hereunder."

     4. Section 3.2 of the Employment Agreement is amended to read as follows:
"In addition to the Base Salary, the Executive shall be entitled to a cash bonus
on or before March 31, 2000, with the amount thereof at the discretion of the
Board of Directors and payable in accordance with the standard policies of the
Company in existence from time to time, subject to any deductions required by
law, provided, however, that such cash bonus shall not be less than Four Hundred
Thousand Dollars ($400,000). In addition, to the extent that the bonus that
would have been payable to the Executive under the Company's Short Term
Incentive Compensation Program in March 2001, if he was employed by the Company
on that date, exceeds Four Hundred Thousand Dollars ($400,000), the Executive
shall be entitled to a cash bonus on or before March 31, 2001 equal to
five-twelfths (5/12) of the excess of such hypothetical bonus over Four Hundred
Thousand Dollars ($400,000). In addition, to the extent that a bonus would have
been payable to the Executive under the Company's Long Term Incentive
Compensation Program in March 2001, if he was employed by the Company on that
date, the Executive shall be entitled to a cash bonus on or before March 31,
2001 equal to five-twelfths (5/12) of such hypothetical bonus."
<PAGE>

     5. On May 31, 2000, the Company shall pay to the Executive a
non-refundable, lump sum payment of One Million One Hundred Eleven Thousand Six
Hundred Sixty-Six Dollars ($1,111,666) (the "Advance Payment"), subject to any
deductions required by law.

     6. Notwithstanding Section 4.1(a) of the Employment Agreement, the Company
may terminate the Employment Agreement, without Cause, only upon the death of
the Executive.

     7. The reference in Section 4.2(a) to the "Bonus" shall be construed as a
reference to the bonuses payable to the Executive pursuant to Section 3.2.

     8. Section 4.2(b) of the Employment Agreement is amended to read as
follows: "In the event of termination pursuant to Section 4.1(b), the Executive
shall promptly receive, in cash and without discount, the Advance Payment and
the aggregate amount of the Base Salary that he would have been entitled to
receive through the date which would have been the last day of the Term. In
addition, the Executive shall receive, on the dates specified in Section 3.2,
the bonuses specified therein."

     9. Section 5.1 of the Employment Agreement is amended to read as follows:
"At all times during the Term, the Executive shall not commit any of the
Prohibited Acts."

     10. Notwithstanding the terms of the Change of Control Agreement and the
Change of Control Continuation of Employment Agreement (together, the "Ancillary
Agreements") currently in effect between the Executive and the Company, none of
the provisions of either such agreement shall be applicable to a change of
control (as defined in each such agreement) which occurs after May 31, 2000.

     11. Except as specifically amended hereby, the terms of the Employment
Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements shall remain in full force and effect.
After the date hereof, all references to the Employment Agreement shall mean
references to the Employment Agreement as amended hereby.

     12. This Amendment Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the domestic substantive laws of the State of Illinois without
giving effect to any choice or conflict of laws provision or rule that would
cause the application of the domestic substantive laws of any other
jurisdiction.

     13. This Amendment Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts,
each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall
constitute one and the same instrument.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has duly executed this
Amendment Agreement as of the date first above written.

                                       /s/ Paul J. Kardos
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                       PAUL J. KARDOS
                                       HORACE MANN EDUCATORS
                                          CORPORATION

                                       By:/s/ Louis G. Lower II
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          Name: Louis G. Lower II
                                          Title: President

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