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] 74, Form 8863 - Education Credits 30.03.2026 3:35

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: • The AOTC is a per-student credit with a 40% refundable portion...

Enrolled Agent Exam [Part 1] 73, Form 8962 - Premium Tax Credit Reconciliation 29.03.2026 3:14

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 reconcile Advance Premium Tax Credits (APTC) with the f...

Enrolled Agent Exam [Part 1] 72, Household Employment Taxes 28.03.2026 3:45

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 the $2,700 annual FICA thresho...

Enrolled Agent Exam [Part 1] 71, Cancellation of Debt Income 27.03.2026 3:11

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 cancelled debt is generally taxable income reported on Fo...

Enrolled Agent Exam [Part 1] 70, Like-Kind Exchanges under Section 1031 26.03.2026 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: • Why Section 1031 tax deferral now applies exclusively to real...

Enrolled Agent Exam [Part 1] 69, Installment Sales and Form 6252 25.03.2026 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: • How to calculate the gross profit percentage to determine the...

Enrolled Agent Exam [Part 1] 68, Basis of Inherited Property 24.03.2026 3:13

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: • Inherited property’s basis is generally its Fair Market Value...

Enrolled Agent Exam [Part 1] 67, Gift Tax Fundamentals 23.03.2026 3:58

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: • Learn when Form 709 is required for gifts exceeding the $19,00...

Enrolled Agent Exam [Part 1] 66, Estate Tax Basics 22.03.2026 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: • How to determine if a Form 706 is required based on the gross...

Enrolled Agent Exam [Part 1] 65, Injured Spouse Claims 21.03.2026 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 critical difference between an Injured Spouse claim (Form...

Enrolled Agent Exam [Part 1] 64, Innocent Spouse Relief 20.03.2026 3:15

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 distinct qualifications for Innocent Spouse Relief, Separa...

Enrolled Agent Exam [Part 1] 63, Kiddie Tax Rules 19.03.2026 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: • The Kiddie Tax applies to unearned income for children under 1...

Enrolled Agent Exam [Part 1] 62, Education Savings Accounts and 529 Plans 18.03.2026 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: • The federal tax treatment of 529 plan contributions, growth, a...

Enrolled Agent Exam [Part 1] 61, Military Tax Benefits 17.03.2026 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: • How the combat zone pay exclusion differs for enlisted members...

Enrolled Agent Exam [Part 1] 60, Identity Protection PIN and Fraud Prevention 16.03.2026 3:11

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 IP PIN is a mandatory six-digit number for taxpayers whom...

Enrolled Agent Exam [Part 1] 59, Prior Year Refund Applications 15.03.2026 3:17

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-year lookback period for refunds runs from the origi...

Enrolled Agent Exam [Part 1] 58, Recovering Refunds and Amended Returns 14.03.2026 3:11

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 rule for the statute of limitations for a refund i...

Enrolled Agent Exam [Part 1] 57, Underpayment Penalties and Exceptions 13.03.2026 2:59

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 underpayment penalty applies if a taxpayer pays less than...

Enrolled Agent Exam [Part 1] 56, Estimated Tax Requirements 12.03.2026 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 $1,000 threshold that triggers the requirement to pay esti...

Enrolled Agent Exam [Part 1] 55, Withholding and Form W-4 11.03.2026 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 redesigned Form W-4 uses direct dollar adjustments for wit...

Enrolled Agent Exam [Part 1] 54, Additional Medicare Tax 10.03.2026 3:35

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: • The 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax applies to earned income over...

Enrolled Agent Exam [Part 1] 53, Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT) 09.03.2026 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: • NIIT is a 3.8% tax calculated on the lesser of net investment...

Enrolled Agent Exam [Part 1] 52, Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) - Individuals 08.03.2026 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: • How the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) operates as a parallel t...

Enrolled Agent Exam [Part 1] 51, Tax Computation Methods 07.03.2026 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: • To use IRS Tax Tables for taxable income under $100,000 and th...

Enrolled Agent Exam [Part 1] 50, Other Nonrefundable Credits 06.03.2026 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: • That Schedule R eligibility for the Elderly or Disabled Credit...