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Open Exam Prep

Open Exam Prep

Written by: Ran Chen EA CFP®
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About this listen

 Open Exam Prep: Mastering Financial Exams The 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 complex major exam topics into clear, digestible lessons, covering everything from tax planning and estate strategies to retirement solutions and investment principles. Whether you’re studying during your commute, workout, or downtime, we are here to guide you—one question, one topic, one victory at a time. Visit for more content: https://open-exam-prep.com/Copyright 2026 Ran Chen, EA, CFP® Education
Episodes
  • [SIE] 37, Call Options - Rights and Strategies

    [SIE] 37, Call Options - Rights and Strategies
    Jan 14 2026
    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 strike price. - How to calculate maximum gain, maximum loss, and breakeven for a long call position. - The motivations and unlimited risk associated with writing a naked (uncovered) call. - How a covered call strategy works to generate income on an existing stock position. - A simple mnemonic, "Call Up," to remember the breakeven formula and bullish sentiment for call buyers. For more resources visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ and connect on LinkedIn at https://linkedin.com/in/chenran818
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    4 mins
  • [SIE] 36, Options - Introduction and Terminology

    [SIE] 36, Options - Introduction and Terminology
    Jan 13 2026
    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 specific rights of an option buyer versus the obligations of an option seller. - How to define and apply key terms like strike price, premium, and expiration. - The market outlooks associated with buying and selling calls and puts. - How to avoid common exam traps, like forgetting the 100-share multiplier in calculations. For more resources visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ and connect on LinkedIn at https://linkedin.com/in/chenran818
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    3 mins
  • [SIE] 35, Variable Life Insurance

    [SIE] 35, Variable Life Insurance
    Jan 12 2026
    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 life insurance. - Why the policyowner, not the insurer, assumes all investment risk. - How cash value accumulates and can be accessed through loans or withdrawals. - The distinction between the guaranteed minimum death benefit in VL and the flexible options in VUL. - Key regulatory requirements, including the delivery of a prospectus before sale. For more resources visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ and connect on LinkedIn at https://linkedin.com/in/chenran818
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    4 mins
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