Ran Chen, EA, CFP®

Finance Exam Prep

Education EN ↓ 281 episodes

Finance Exam Prep is a daily podcast designed to help future tax and finance professionals pass their certification and licensing exams with clarity and confidence. Built and operated by OpenExamPrep, this podcast breaks down major tax exams into focused, easy-to-digest episodes covering the CPA & Enrolled Agent (EA) Exam, including Part 1 (Individuals), Part 2 (Businesses), and Part 3 (Representation, Practices, and Procedures). Each episode targets one key tax concept, common exam trap, or high-frequency test topic—making it ideal for studying during commutes, workouts, or short study sessio...

Be sure to visit the podcast's website and support the creator: open-exam-prep.com

Author

Ran Chen, EA, CFP®

Episodes

[CFA Level I] 6, Fair Dealing When Recommendations Change 25.10.2026 4:16

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - How Standard III(B) Fair Dealing governs material changes in i...

[CFA Level I] 5, Misrepresentation and Crediting Other Analysts 24.10.2026 4:53

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: * The core scope of Standard I(C) Misrepresentation under the CF...

[CFA Level I] 4, Material Nonpublic Information and the Mosaic Approach 23.10.2026 4:36

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: • The criteria for material nonpublic information under Standard...

[CFA Level I] 3, Professional Independence Under Gifts and Pressure 22.10.2026 4:35

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - How to distinguish modest gifts from third-party benefits that...

[CFA Level I] 2, Ethical Decisions When the Legal Minimum Is Not Enough 21.10.2026 4:26

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: * How ethical expectations differ from mere legal compliance in...

[CFA Level I] 1, The Ten Topic Areas and Your Study Plan 20.10.2026 4:23

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: * The ten official 2027 CFA Level I topic names and weight range...

Enrolled Agent Exam [Part 3] 75, Final Review and Representation Strategy 19.10.2026 3:16

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - To differentiate Form 2848 (Power of Attorney) from Form 8821...

Enrolled Agent Exam [Part 3] 74, E-File Acknowledgments Rejects and Post-Filing Corrections 18.10.2026 3:18

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The three e-file acknowledgment statuses and what an "Accepted...

Enrolled Agent Exam [Part 3] 73, Electronic Signatures PINs and Form 8879 17.10.2026 3:16

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The crucial difference between the Practitioner PIN and Self-S...

Enrolled Agent Exam [Part 3] 72, E-File Mandate EFIN and Authorized Providers 16.10.2026 3:20

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The specific '11 or more' aggregate filing threshold that trig...

Enrolled Agent Exam [Part 3] 71, Freedom of Information and IRS Records 15.10.2026 3:41

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - To always choose the simplest method for obtaining IRS records...

Enrolled Agent Exam [Part 3] 70, Taxpayer Advocate Service and Form 911 14.10.2026 3:39

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The four specific criteria that make a taxpayer eligible for T...

Enrolled Agent Exam [Part 3] 69, Refund Claims and Form 843 13.10.2026 3:56

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The critical difference between using an amended income tax re...

Enrolled Agent Exam [Part 3] 68, Innocent Spouse and Joint Liability Relief 12.10.2026 3:03

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The default rule of joint and several liability and why it nec...

Enrolled Agent Exam [Part 3] 67, Penalty Abatement and Reasonable Cause 11.10.2026 3:21

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The three strict requirements for the First-Time Abate (FTA) a...

Enrolled Agent Exam [Part 3] 66, Bankruptcy and the Collection Statute 10.10.2026 3:22

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - How the automatic stay halts most IRS collection but allows ce...

Enrolled Agent Exam [Part 3] 65, Trust Fund Recovery Penalty Representation 09.10.2026 3:05

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The Trust Fund Recovery Penalty (TFRP) is a personal assessmen...

Enrolled Agent Exam [Part 3] 64, Currently Not Collectible and Economic Hardship 08.10.2026 3:29

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - Currently Not Collectible (CNC) is a temporary status for taxp...

Enrolled Agent Exam [Part 3] 63, Offers in Compromise 07.10.2026 2:43

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The three grounds for an Offer in Compromise: Doubt as to Liab...

Enrolled Agent Exam [Part 3] 62, Installment Agreements 06.10.2026 3:23

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The specific dollar and time limits that differentiate Guarant...

Enrolled Agent Exam [Part 3] 61, Collection Due Process and Equivalent Hearings 05.10.2026 3:27

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - That Collection Due Process (CDP) rights are triggered by a No...

Enrolled Agent Exam [Part 3] 60, Assessment Lien Levy and Collection Sequence 04.10.2026 3:34

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The IRS collection process begins with an assessment, followed...

Enrolled Agent Exam [Part 3] 59, Fast Track Settlement and Alternative Dispute Resolution 03.10.2026 3:12

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - Fast Track Settlement (FTS) is a voluntary mediation process u...

Enrolled Agent Exam [Part 3] 58, Statutory Notice and Tax Court Boundaries 02.10.2026 3:08

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The 90-day clock to petition the Tax Court starts from the dat...

Enrolled Agent Exam [Part 3] 57, Independent Office of Appeals Conferences 01.10.2026 3:01

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - That the Independent Office of Appeals' primary role is to set...