Ran Chen, EA, CFP®

Open Exam Prep

Education EN ↓ 349 episodes

Open Exam Prep: Mastering Financial ExamsThe path to becoming a certified financial professional is known for its difficulty, and finding high-quality, accessible study material shouldn't be the hardest part. Created by Ran Chen—an AI application enthusiast, Financial Advisor, and holder of the EA (Tax), Life Insurance, Series 6/63/65, and CFP® designations—this podcast was born from personal experience. Having navigated these challenging exams himself, Ran realized the need for better resources and created Open Exam Prep as a free solution for aspiring professionals. Each episode breaks down...

Author

Ran Chen, EA, CFP®

Episodes

[SIE] 49, Margin Accounts - Maintenance and Calls 26.01.2026 3:42

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and CFP designation. He is passionate about opening up information to help everyone prepare better for financial certification exams. This episode covers content for the SIE Exam. In this episode you will learn: - The core formula for calculating equity in a long margin account. - How t...

[SIE] 48, Margin Accounts - Basics 25.01.2026 4:00

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and CFP designation. He is passionate about opening up information to help everyone prepare better for financial certification exams. This episode covers content for the SIE Exam. In this episode you will learn: - The function of a margin account and the concept of leverage. - The diffe...

[SIE] 47, Employer-Sponsored Retirement Plans 24.01.2026 3:38

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and CFP designation. He is passionate about opening up information to help everyone prepare better for financial certification exams. This episode covers content for the SIE Exam exam. In this episode you will learn: - The key differences between 401(k), 403(b), and 457 plans based on e...

[SIE] 46, Traditional and Roth IRAs 23.01.2026 4:41

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and CFP designation. He is passionate about opening up information to help everyone prepare better for financial certification exams. This episode covers content for the SIE Exam. In this episode you will learn: - Understand the fundamental tax difference: Traditional IRAs are pre-tax w...

[SIE] 45, Customer Account Types - Business and Fiduciary 22.01.2026 3:44

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and CFP designation. He is passionate about opening up information to help everyone prepare better for financial certification exams. This episode covers content for the SIE Exam. In this episode you will learn: - The specific documentation required to open corporate, partnership, and t...

[SIE] 44, Customer Account Types - Individual and Joint 21.01.2026 3:19

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and CFP designation. He is passionate about opening up information to help everyone prepare better for financial certification exams. This episode covers content for the SIE Exam. In this episode you will learn: - The defining characteristics of an individual brokerage account. - How as...

[SIE] 43, Alternative Investments 20.01.2026 3:47

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and CFP designation. He is passionate about opening up information to help everyone prepare better for financial certification exams. This episode covers content for the SIE Exam. In this episode you will learn: - What defines a hedge fund, including its aggressive strategies and "2 and...

[SIE] 42, Direct Participation Programs 19.01.2026 3:29

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and CFP designation. He is passionate about opening up information to help everyone prepare better for financial certification exams. This episode covers content for the SIE Exam. In this episode you will learn: - The structure and purpose of Direct Participation Programs (DPPs). - The...

[SIE] 41, REITs 18.01.2026 3:52

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and CFP designation. He is passionate about opening up information to help everyone prepare better for financial certification exams. This episode covers content for the SIE Exam. In this episode you will learn: - The "75-75-90" rule for a REIT to maintain its tax-advantaged status. - H...

[SIE] 40, Options - Max Gain, Max Loss, Breakeven 17.01.2026 3:37

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and CFP designation. He is passionate about opening up information to help everyone prepare better for financial certification exams. This episode covers content for the SIE Exam. In this episode you will learn: - How to calculate breakeven for call options by adding the premium to the...

[SIE] 39, Options - Intrinsic and Time Value 16.01.2026 3:41

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and CFP designation. He is passionate about opening up information to help everyone prepare better for financial certification exams. This episode covers content for the SIE Exam. In this episode you will learn: - The two components of an option's premium: intrinsic value and time value...

[SIE] 38, Put Options - Rights and Strategies 15.01.2026 3:41

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and CFP designation. He is passionate about opening up information to help everyone prepare better for financial certification exams. This episode covers content for the SIE Exam. In this episode you will learn: - What right a put option grants to its owner. - Why buying a put option is...

[SIE] 37, Call Options - Rights and Strategies 14.01.2026 3:38

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and CFP designation. He is passionate about opening up information to help everyone prepare better for financial certification exams. This episode covers content for the SIE Exam. In this episode you will learn: - The fundamental right of a call option buyer to purchase a stock at a set...

[SIE] 36, Options - Introduction and Terminology 13.01.2026 3:14

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and CFP designation. He is passionate about opening up information to help everyone prepare better for financial certification exams. This episode covers content for the SIE Exam. In this episode you will learn: - The fundamental difference between a call option and a put option. - The...

[SIE] 35, Variable Life Insurance 12.01.2026 4:09

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and CFP designation. He is passionate about opening up information to help everyone prepare better for financial certification exams. This episode covers content for the SIE Exam. In this episode you will learn: - The fundamental difference between variable life and variable universal l...

[SIE] 34, Variable Annuities - Features and Taxation 11.01.2026 3:44

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and CFP designation. He is passionate about opening up information to help everyone prepare better for financial certification exams. This episode covers content for the SIE Exam. In this episode you will learn: - The function of a variable annuity death benefit and how it protects bene...

[SIE] 33, Variable Annuities - Basics 10.01.2026 3:27

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and CFP designation. He is passionate about opening up information to help everyone prepare better for financial certification exams. This episode covers content for the SIE Exam. In this episode you will learn: - Why variable annuities are considered hybrid products, regulated as both...

[SIE] 32, Closed-End Funds and UITs 09.01.2026 3:26

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and CFP designation. He is passionate about opening up information to help everyone prepare better for financial certification exams. This episode covers content for the SIE Exam. In this episode you will learn: - The difference between a closed-end fund's IPO and its secondary market t...

[SIE] 31, Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) 08.01.2026 3:39

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and CFP designation. He is passionate about opening up information to help everyone prepare better for financial certification exams. This episode covers content for the SIE Exam exam. In this episode you will learn: - How ETFs are structured and trade intraday on exchanges like individ...

[SIE] 30, Types of Mutual Funds 07.01.2026 4:28

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and CFP designation. He is passionate about opening up information to help everyone prepare better for financial certification exams. This episode covers content for the SIE Exam. In this episode you will learn: - The primary investment objectives of the four main mutual fund types: equ...

[SIE] 29, Mutual Fund Expenses and Disclosure 06.01.2026 4:26

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and CFP designation. He is passionate about opening up information to help everyone prepare better for financial certification exams. This episode covers content for the SIE Exam. In this episode you will learn: - The key differences between Class A, B, and C mutual fund shares and thei...

[SIE] 28, Mutual Fund Share Classes 05.01.2026 4:24

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and CFP designation. He is passionate about opening up information to help everyone prepare better for financial certification exams. This episode covers content for the SIE Exam. In this episode you will learn: - The primary fee structures of Class A, Class B, and Class C mutual fund s...

[SIE] 27, Mutual Funds - Structure and Pricing 04.01.2026 3:32

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and CFP designation. He is passionate about opening up information to help everyone prepare better for financial certification exams. This episode covers content for the SIE Exam. In this episode you will learn: - The definition of an open-end investment company and how it differs from...

[SIE] 26, Money Market Instruments 03.01.2026 3:44

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and CFP designation. He is passionate about opening up information to help everyone prepare better for financial certification exams. This episode covers content for the SIE Exam. In this episode you will learn: - The core characteristics of money market instruments: short-maturity, hig...

[SIE] 25, Bond Risks - Call, Inflation, and Liquidity 02.01.2026 4:21

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and CFP designation. He is passionate about opening up information to help everyone prepare better for financial certification exams. This episode covers content for the SIE Exam. In this episode you will learn: - The relationship between falling interest rates and an issuer's decision...