SUPPLEMENT TO THE PROSPECTUS
                              DATED APRIL 30, 2002
                     NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL VARIABLE JOINT LIFE


         PAGE 2 OF THE PROSPECTUS

         The first sentence of the first paragraph under the heading "From
         Policy Value," on page 2 of the Prospectus is amended to read as
         follows: Cost of insurance charge deducted monthly, is based on the net
         amount at risk, Policy date, Policy duration, and the issue age, sex
         and risk classification of the insured persons.


         PAGE 3 OF THE PROSPECTUS

         Item (1) on page 3 of the Prospectus, under the heading "From Policy
         Value," is amended to read as follows: (1) The invested assets
         component - The current charge is at the annual rate of .20% (0.01667%
         monthly rate) of the Policy Value less any Policy debt. The maximum
         charge is at the annual rate of .90% (0.075% monthly rate).


         PAGE 10 OF THE PROSPECTUS

         The fourth sentence of the first paragraph under the heading "Charges
         against the Policy Value" in the right column on page 10 of the
         Prospectus is amended to read as follows: The cost of insurance rate
         reflects the Policy date, Policy duration, and the issue age, sex and
         risk classification of the insured persons.

         The fourth sentence of the second paragraph under the heading "Charges
         against the Policy Value" at the top of the right column on page 10 of
         the Prospectus is amended to read as follows: Currently the charge is
         equal to an annual rate of .20% (0.01667% monthly rate) of the Policy
         Value.


         PAGE 17 OF THE PROSPECTUS

         The following is added after the third paragraph under the heading
         "Other Tax Considerations" in the right column on page 17 of the
         prospectus:  On July 3, 2002, the Treasury and Internal Revenue Service
         issued proposed regulations regarding the taxation of split dollar
         arrangements. The proposed regulations provide that split dollar
         arrangements must be taxed under one of two mutually exclusive tax
         regimes depending on the ownership of the underlying life insurance
         policy. Collateral assignment split dollar arrangements, in which the
         employee owns the policy, must be taxed under a loan regime. Where
         such an arrangement imposes a below market or no interest rate, the
         employee is taxed on the imputed interest under Section 7872 of the
         Code. Endorsement split dollar arrangements, in which the employer owns
         the policy, must be taxed under an economic benefit regime. Under this
         regime, the employee is taxed each year on (i) the current life
         insurance protection transferred to the employee and (ii) any other
         economic benefits, including an interest in the cash surrender value of
         the policy, to which the employee is provided any right or benefit
         during the taxable year. The proposed regulations have not been
         finalized as of the date of this Supplement and final regulations will
         apply only to arrangements entered into after their publication in the
         Federal Register.

         On July 30, 2002, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 was signed into law.
         One provision of the Act provides that it is a criminal offense for a
         public employer to extend or arrange a personal loan to a director or
         executive officer after July 30, 2002. One issue that has not been
         clarified is whether each premium paid by the employer under a split
         dollar arrangement with a director or executive officer is a personal
         loan subject to the new law.

           THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT IS JANUARY 1, 2003.