Ran Chen, EA, CFP®

Finance Exam Prep

Education EN ↓ 174 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...

Author

Ran Chen, EA, CFP®

Episodes

Enrolled Agent Exam [Part 1] 99, Form 1040 Review and Common Errors 24.04.2026 3:09

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 determine the most advantageous filing status between Q...

Enrolled Agent Exam [Part 1] 98, Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) 23.04.2026 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: • How to apply for an ITIN using Form W-7 and when it must be at...

Enrolled Agent Exam [Part 1] 97, Tax Return Preparer Due Diligence 22.04.2026 4:13

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: • Due diligence under Section 6695(g) is mandatory for returns c...

Enrolled Agent Exam [Part 1] 96, Fringe Benefits - Taxable vs Excludable 21.04.2026 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: • Cash or cash equivalents, regardless of the amount, are never...

Enrolled Agent Exam [Part 1] 95, Recognition of Income - Cash vs Accrual 20.04.2026 2:57

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: • Distinguish between the cash method (income when received) and...

Enrolled Agent Exam [Part 1] 94, Tax Benefits for Adoption 19.04.2026 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 critical timing difference for claiming expenses between d...

Enrolled Agent Exam [Part 1] 93, Scholarships, Fellowships, and Educational Assistance 18.04.2026 3:07

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 between tax-free qualified education expens...

Enrolled Agent Exam [Part 1] 92, Standard Mileage Rates and Transportation 17.04.2026 3:37

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: • Understand the crucial difference between non-deductible commu...

Enrolled Agent Exam [Part 1] 91, Retirement Plan Contribution Limits for 2025 16.04.2026 3:57

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 2025 base, standard catch-up, and special age 60-63 catch-...

Enrolled Agent Exam [Part 1] 90, Form 8949 Reporting Requirements 15.04.2026 3:10

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 distinction between reporting transactions direct...

Enrolled Agent Exam [Part 1] 89, Earned Income Definition and Sources 14.04.2026 3:30

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 primary sources of earned income are wages, salaries, tips...

Enrolled Agent Exam [Part 1] 88, Foreign Tax Credit Fundamentals 13.04.2026 2:56

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: • Why taking a foreign tax credit is almost always more benefici...

Enrolled Agent Exam [Part 1] 87, Backup Withholding Requirements 12.04.2026 3:02

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 backup withholding is a flat 24% rate applied to specific...

Enrolled Agent Exam [Part 1] 86, Statute of Limitations - Assessment and Collection 11.04.2026 3:32

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 general three-year statute of limitations for the IRS to a...

Enrolled Agent Exam [Part 1] 85, Offer in Compromise Basics 10.04.2026 3:52

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: • Distinguish the three grounds for an OIC: Doubt as to Collecti...

Enrolled Agent Exam [Part 1] 84, Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCD) 09.04.2026 3:52

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: • Taxpayers must be age 70½ or older to make a Qualified Charita...

Enrolled Agent Exam [Part 1] 83, Health Savings Account Distributions 08.04.2026 3:48

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: • Qualified HSA distributions for medical expenses are always ta...

Enrolled Agent Exam [Part 1] 82, Statutory Employees and Form W-2 07.04.2026 3:44

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 identify a statutory employee on Form W-2 by looking fo...

Enrolled Agent Exam [Part 1] 81, S Corporation Distributions and Basis 06.04.2026 3:42

Enrolled Agent Exam [Part 1] 80, Sale of Partnership Interest 05.04.2026 3:25

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 gain on a partnership interest sale is split between ordin...

Enrolled Agent Exam [Part 1] 79, Excess Business Losses for Individuals 04.04.2026 3:36

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: • How to calculate the excess business loss using the 2025 thres...

Enrolled Agent Exam [Part 1] 78, Net Operating Losses (NOLs) 03.04.2026 4:00

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 apply the 80% taxable income limitation to Net Operatin...

Enrolled Agent Exam [Part 1] 77, Hobby Loss Rules 02.04.2026 3:49

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 post-TCJA rule: hobby income is fully taxable, while hobby...

Enrolled Agent Exam [Part 1] 76, At-Risk Rules and Basis Limitations 01.04.2026 2:56

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: • Loss deductions must sequentially clear three hurdles: Basis,...

Enrolled Agent Exam [Part 1] 75, Passive Activity Loss Carryovers 31.03.2026 4:02

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: • Suspended passive losses are not permanently lost; they are ca...