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                                                                      EXHIBIT 5



VIA EDGAR
---------

April 13, 2001

Anchor National Life Insurance Company
1 SunAmerica Center
Los Angeles, CA 90067


Ladies and Gentlemen:


Referring to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed April 13, 2001 (the
"Registration Statement") by Anchor National Life Insurance Company ("Anchor
National") with the Securities and Exchange Commission, under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended, I am of the opinion that:

        1)      Anchor National is a duly organized and existing stock life
                insurance company under the laws of the State of Arizona; and

        2)      the annuity contracts being registered by the Registration
                Statement will, upon sale thereof, be legally issued, fully paid
                and nonassessable, and, to the extent that they are construed to
                constitute debt securities, will be binding obligations of
                Anchor National, except as enforceability may be limited by
                bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting
                the rights of creditors generally.

I am licensed to practice law only in the State of California, and the foregoing
opinions are limited to the laws of the State of California, the general
corporate law of the State of Arizona and federal law. I hereby consent to the
filing of this opinion with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection
with the Registration Statement.

I further consent to the incorporation by reference of this opinion with respect
to future filings under Rule 462(b) of the Securities Act of 1933 for the sole
purpose of registering additional securities.



Very truly yours,


/s/ CHRISTINE A. NIXON

Christine A. Nixon